Monuments

This Church, dedicated to Saint Francis, is located right by the river Lis and is one of the most interesting monuments in Leiria. Indeed, its historical presence stands out starkly given its much more recent urban surroundings.

The church has been here since the 14th century, originally belonging to the Order of Saint Francis. Inside, the murals, fully covering the walls of the nave, are of fine artistic worth. They are unique in Portugal given both the quality of the workmanship and their size.

The Chapel to the Martyrs of Morocco (16th century), built out of white marble, is an interesting example of the Renaissance style with the peculiarity of the altarpiece structurally matching the external arch.

In the 18th century, the church was handed over to the Third Order of Saint Francis. A Baroque chapel was then built onto the left entrance. The convent was closed down in 1834 when religious orders were abolished in Portugal.

In 1992, the building was restored under the guidance of architect João Roda, with the murals getting a facelift between 1996 and 2000.