San Francisco el Grande, Madrid

The Basílica de San Francisco el Grande (Basilica of St. Francis the Great) in Madrid was built in 1760 by King Carlos III. It stands on the site of a Franciscan convent, which is claimed to have been founded by St. Francis himself in 1217.

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What to See at San Francisco el Grande

The Basilica of St. Francis has a round floor plan and boasts the largest dome in Spain, at 108 feet in diameter - even larger than that of St. Paul's Cathedral in London.

The church incorporates three chapels, including the Chapel of San Bernardino de Siena with a magnificent painting of the saint by Goya. The figure on the right in the painting that is not looking up is a self-portrait of the artist.

The seven main doors were carved of American walnut by Casa Juan Guas and the 16th-century Gothic choir stalls are from La Cartuja del Paular, in Segovia province.

Quick Facts on San Francisco el Grande

Site Information
Names:San Francisco el Grande
Country:Spain
Categories:churches
Dedication: St. Francis
Dates:1700
Status: active
Visitor and Contact Information
Coordinates:40.410408° N, 3.714591° W
Address:Madrid, Spain
Lodging:View hotels near San Francisco el Grande
Note: This information was accurate when first published and we do our best to keep it updated, but details such as opening hours and prices can change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please check with the site directly before making a special trip.

References

  1. Personal visit (exterior only; March 31, 2007).
  2. Fodor's Spain 2005.

More Information

© Holly Hayes

Map of San Francisco el Grande, Madrid

Below is a location map and aerial view of San Francisco el Grande. Using the buttons on the left (or the wheel on your mouse), you can zoom in for a closer look, or zoom out to get your bearings. To move around, click and drag the map with your mouse.