Convent and Church of Saint Francis

Gothic-Romanesque convent church housing the tomb of a legendary figure

Founded in the 13th century by the Franciscan order, this convent and its church stand near the old riverbank at the edge of Pontevedra's historic quarter. The exterior mixes Romanesque and Gothic elements, and the interior is one of the more atmospheric religious spaces in a city not short of them.

The church is famous for a remarkable medieval tomb — traditionally attributed to Paio Gomes Charinho, admiral to Alfonso X and one of the poets of the Galician-Portuguese lyric tradition. The carved sarcophagus, with its nautical imagery, is worth the detour even if you have no particular interest in medieval history. The convent buildings are not open to visitors, but the church is accessible during normal hours.

things to do landmark
A story
Inside the church is a tomb said to belong to Paio Gomes Charinho, a Galician nobleman and troubadour who served as admiral under Alfonso X of Castile in the 13th century. Whether the bones are really his remains uncertain, but his carved effigy on the sarcophagus — flanked by sailors and sea creatures — is one of the finest pieces of medieval sculpture in Galicia.