Igreja da Ordem Terceira de São Francisco, Baroque church in Santo Antonio district, Recife, Brazil
Igreja da Ordem Terceira de São Francisco is a Baroque church in Santo Antônio district with an interior marked by carved cedar details, marble work, and 22-karat gold leaf covering throughout. The building combines a main chapel and connected spaces that form a complex housing religious artwork and sacred art collections.
The Third Order of Saint Francis began construction in the 16th century with support from wealthy merchants active in colonial Recife at that time. The project developed over generations and shaped the religious architecture of the colonial city.
Nine large paintings by José Pinhão de Matos decorate the walls with religious scenes that reflect Portuguese artistic traditions in Brazilian sacred art. These works define the artistic character of the interior space that visitors see today.
The building is accessible during daylight hours and easy to locate in the street. Visitors should expect to explore interconnected interior spaces including multiple chapels and exhibition areas within the complex.
The cloister features Roman arches that complement the baroque design and add an unusual architectural detail. The floor contains original ceramic tiles from 1704 depicting Genesis scenes in traditional Portuguese tile-making craft.
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