Among the many reasons to visit the city of Ourense are its monuments, which we will deal with in this article, but we must also take into account its thermal and gastronomic offering. Our recommendation in this Galician capital is to organise a varied agenda where time is set aside to get to know the historical and cultural aspects of the city and also relax in its thermal baths.
Early or late in the day, it is a pleasure to stroll through the old town to explore the landmarks such as the Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral, a large number of churches and also Saint Francis Cloister, which we will deal with on this occasion. Stroll through the streets calmly enjoying the silence, the cobbled streets, the beautiful façades that speak of other times and the neighbourhoods where the bars with outdoor seating encourage you to pass by and taste the local dishes. And if you still have time, do not hesitate to go on a food and wine getaway (round-trip) to explore the various designations of origin of the famous Galician wines.
- History of Saint Francis Cloister
- Visit to Saint Francis Cloister
- What else to see in the city
- Where to stay in Ourense
History of Saint Francis Cloister
Saint Francis Cloister is one of the essential visits in Ourense for many reasons but the main one is because it is one of the best preserved Franciscan cloisters transitioning between Romanesque and Gothic in the region. It belongs to the oldest part of an old convent and its construction has been dated to between 1325 and 1350. As a curiosity, we can tell you that this place was used as infantry barracks from 1835 until 1987, and that a church that belonged to the religious centre was moved to San Lázaro Park in 1929. The cloister has been protected since 1923, when it was declared a Historic-Artistic Monument.
Visit to Saint Francis Cloister
The cloister of Saint Francis convent has a rectangular and irregular plan, almost square, with three sides occupied by slightly pointed arches and double columns on one side supported by a masonry plinth. The roof is made of wood. If you look at the paired columns, you will see that they support 63 pointed arches that maintain the decoration on the capitals, the corbels, etc. You will also notice 76 double columns, the last four of which are different.
Perhaps the most beautiful thing, from our point of view, is the ornamentation of the spaces between the arches with heads placed in circles and the capitals with plant, zoomorphic and anthropomorphic motifs plus scenes from the Old Testament and related to hunting as well as fantasy and real animals (elephants, lions, dogs, etc.).
In addition to the cloister, you should also see the funeral chapel of the Sandoval family (under an arch) and the Chapel of the Venerable Third Order, which today houses the collections of the Provincial Archaeological Museum. The convent also functions as a great cultural complex, so it is worth visiting the Municipal Auditorium, the Nodal Library, the Provincial Archives, etc.
San Francis Cloister is one of those magical places that is worth visiting for its beauty, history and photogenic corners where the stone and vegetation of the interior provide good backdrops for photographs. It is only closed one day a week (Mondays) and, except for Sundays, it is open mid-morning and evening. Moreover, admission is free, so there is no excuse not to visit this curious place.
What else to see in the city
After visiting Saint Francis Cloister in Ourense, your tour of monuments can continue through other places of interest or you can visit San Lázaro Park to see the old church of the convent that was taken to that place. Make sure that you jot down the following in your agenda: the Plaza Mayor (Main Square), San Martin’s Cathedral, Santa María Madre’s church, the Plaza del Trigo (Wheat Square), the Old Episcopal Palace, the Plaza de la Magdalena, Santa Eufemia’s church and, of course, the As Burgas hot springs.
If you only have time to make two cultural visits in Ourense, our advice is to go to the Plaza Mayor, with a curious inclined plane to which the surrounding buildings have been adapted, and the Cathedral dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours, which is impressive in all its façades but, above all, its beautiful Portico of Paradise. It probably reminds you of the Portico of Glory of Santiago Cathedral and, although it is not as important, it is certainly impressive.
Where to stay in Ourense
One of the best hotels to stay in this city is the Barcelo Ourense, a four-star hotel located in the historic centre so that you can visit all the attractions on foot. That modern establishment is an ideal place to take a break from the hustle and bustle of tourism and recharge your batteries in its beautiful rooms. Equipped to B-Room standards, they offer extra comfortable mattresses, a pillow menu, rain showers, and a handy tea and coffee set. In addition, every morning it is a pleasure to enjoy the healthy breakfast buffet B-Likeat or the snacks served in the lobby bar.
It is also worth mentioning that, if you like to take care of yourself on your travels, you can use its gym and sauna. If you are travelling on business, you can make use of its meeting rooms.
