IGREJA DA ORDEM TERCEIRA DE SÃO FRANCISCO

Built in the 18th century, the church's plateresque façade, in high relief and richly decorated, is the only one in Brazil to be made entirely of carved stone. Built in 1703, it is the ultimate achievement of the Rococo Baroque style. A globe can be discerned in the stone volutes. Inside, one can admire numerous sculptures of sacred art housed in neoclassical altars considered to be masterpieces of the master José de Cerqueira Torres, which replaced the original baroque decoration in the 19th century. The history of the Church of the Terceira Order of São Francisco began in 1644, when the friars of the Franciscan Third Order founded a more modest church in place of the present temple. Gabriel Ribeiro, the master builder of this first church, soon drew up plans for the new one, the first stone of which was laid on¹ January 1702. At the beginning of the 19th century, the altars were modernised and decorated with sculptures by José de Cerqueira Torres (between 1827 and 1828), while the gilding was installed by Franco Velasco in 1830. Many other improvements were then made: wall paintings, addition of niches and carved panels in the altars, making of candleholders and crosses... It was only in 1932 that it was rediscovered. This façade has already been the subject of attention by several historians: plant and animal elements are mixed with religious and fantastic elements, all carved in opulent stones.