The Church of St. Francis of Penance belongs to the Venerable Third Order of St. Francis and forms part of the larger Convent of Saint Antony complex in central Rio. It is one of the historic religious buildings that make the old centre worth exploring on foot.
The appeal is in the layered colonial setting: churches, convent buildings, and civic architecture packed close together above the busy streets. It is best visited as part of a Centro walk that also takes in Rio's libraries, theatres, and older churches.