ROYAL BASILICA OF SAINT FRANCIS

The Royal Basilica of Saint Francis is an important church that is known for its architectural delight. Admire the beautiful architecture of the building with marble and gold inlaid chapels and home to an amazing collection of paintings. You will also find paintings by some of the top artists in Spain such as Francisco Goya’s St. Bernardino of Siena preaching and also Alfonso V of Aragon.

One of the most important churches in the city, it has many interesting features such as the dome which is 33 meters in diameter and height of 58 meters making it the largest dome in Spain. This beautiful dome was created by Fray Francisco Cabezas, who envisioned a circular temple with many chapels. The Royal church was consecrated in 1784 and was officially made the Basilica Minor by Pope John XXIII in 1963. Once you enter the church, you can witness the breathtaking floor-to-ceiling opulence and art under the dome. You will also find beautiful glass-stained windows, which have biblical motifs and sculptures of the apostles and prophets. The Basilica has 6 chapels and each of the chapels has a different theme and a mini museum which features large oil paintings, mosaics, and carved moldings. Visitors can also book a guided tour of the Basilica which will provide them with all the information related to its history.

Highlights

• Explore the largest dome in the city, at 33 metres in circumference and 58 metres in height, which is one of Madrid's major attractions.
• Admire the beautiful neo-classical architecture with marble and gold inlaid chapels.
• Witness the beautiful and impressive collections of paintings inside the basilica by world-famous artists like Francisco Goya and many Spanish artists.
• Enter the basilica to see the stunning chapels, each of which contains a miniature museum filled with numerous artworks and ornately carved moldings.
• Observe the chapel of St. Bernardino of Siena is one of the most popular chapels which has the world of Goya’s famous St. Bernardino of Siena preaching to Alfonso V of Aragon.
• Admire the stunning stained glass windows with their numerous apostles, prophets, and trompe l'oeil depictions of saints.