João Pessoa - Santo Antônio Monastery

Santo Antìnio

On Praça São Francisco, to the north of the city center, is the friary of Santo Antìnio, the finest example of Franciscan architecture in Brazil.

The friary was designed in 1590 by the Franciscan architect Francisco dos Santos, but building began only in 1701 with the construction of the Capela da Ordem Terceira (Chapel of the Third Order). The cloister was completed about 1730.

Monastery

The art historian German Bazin described the façade of Santo Antìnio as "one of the most magnificent architectural compositions in the whole of Latin America". The monumental forecourt is bounded on either side by walls richly decorated with azulejos and sculpture. The fine cross in front of the entrance is