The Roman Catholic Basilica of San Francisco El Grande is located in central Madrid, and was built in the neoclassical style. It was built in the second half of the 18th century and is located in the famous La Latina district. The main facade overlooks San Francisco Square, has one large dome and several smaller ones. Many visitors agree that the exterior of the church is not something breathtaking, but its interior is what gives it great importance and what often puts it on the list of "main attractions in Madrid".
Numerous works of art which represent a real art treasure are housed in the basilica. You can see paintings by Spanish artists from the 18th and 19th centuries, and some of the names signed are Zurbaran, Casto Plasencia, Moreno Carbonero, Eugenio Oliva, Menendez Pidal, Gonzalez Velazquez, Gregorio Ferro, Gaspar Craier, Vicente Carducci. What also sets it apart from other basilicas and churches is the large dome, which is the largest in Spain, and it ranks fourth in Europe, it is 33 meters in diameter and 58 meters high. It was modeled on the dome of St. Peter in Rome.
The Basilica of San Francisco El Grande has been a national monument since 1980. There used to be a Franciscan monastery on this site, which is believed to have been built by Francis of Assisi in 1217, but it was demolished by Charles III to build a new monastery. The designers who worked on the construction of the basilica were Francico Cabezase, Antonio Pio and the basilica was finally completed by Francesco Sabatini.
The ticket price for the Basilica of San Francisco El Grande is € 5
Opening hours of the Basilica of San Francisco El Grande
From Tuesday to Saturday from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 4pm to 6pm.
Author of the text:
Maja Glavaš, Bachelor with Honours in Communicology. Works in Tourism.
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