Church of Saint Francis of Assisi (Ouro Preto)

The Church of Saint Francis of Assisi (Portuguese: Igreja de São Francisco de Assis) is a Rococo Catholic church in Ouro Preto, Brazil. Its erection began in 1766 after a design by the Brazilian architect and sculptor Antônio Francisco Lisboa, otherwise known as Aleijadinho. Lisboa designed both the structure of the church and the carved decorations on the interior, which were only finished towards the end of the 19th century. The circular bell towers and the oculus closed by a relief were original features in religious architecture of that time in Brazil. The façade has a single entrance door under a soapstone frontispiece under a relief depicting Saint Francis receiving the stigmata. The interior is richly decorated with golden woodwork, statues and paintings, and the wooden ceiling displays a painting by Manuel da Costa Ataíde.

The Third Order of São Francisco of Ouro Preto submitted a requested permission to construct the church in 1752 to the Council of Conscience and Orders (Portuguese: Mesa da Consciência e Ordens) in Lisbon. The Council was overwhelmed by requests from Brazil by the 18th century, and permission was only received after 19 years. The Order began construction in 1765 under a two year provisional license. The Council ultimately approved construction of the church in 1771. Due to its architecture and historical significance regarding eighteenth-century gold mining, the church is classified on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is one of the Seven Wonders of Portuguese Origin in the World.