How to visit the Basilica of San Francisco el Grande (Madrid): schedules, prices

If you are interested in visiting the most important churches of Madrid, in your plan you cannot miss the Basilica of Saint Francis the Great.

It is a large church built during the 18th century, which stands out above all for its imposing dome,

Did you know that with its 33 meters in diameter, this dome is the fourth largest of the churches in the Christendom?

La Basilica of Saint Francis the Great de Madrid you find it very close to La Latina, towards where it shows its main façade.

Located in the Bailen Street, you can also contact her from the Royal Palace and Almudena Cathedral, after crossing the viaduct of the Segovia street.

The first thing that will catch your attention Saint Francis the Great Its façade is concave, and above it, and behind two simple towers, you can already guess the magnitude of its dome.

No doubt coming from La Latina It's how you appreciate it best.

The neoclassical style building that you are now going to visit occupies the space of a former Franciscan convent from the thirteenth century.

After the convent was demolished, the current basilica was built in 1760 with a project that was completed in 1784 by the royal architect. Francisco Sabatini.

Subsequently, the building has undergone several renovations, but the most important were those carried out in the 19th century, during the reign of Isabel II, when most of the interior decoration that we can now see was done.

These are the visits to the Basilica San Francisco el Grande

La Basilica of Saint Francis the GreatFor tourist visits, it is presented as a museum, so you can only see it joining you at guided tours.

And never better said about joining you, well during the Visiting hours is carried out continuously guided visit.

In this way, when you enter the temple you join where the group is at that moment, and then make the complete journey to where you joined.

During the guided tour you will not only discover the artistic wealth of the temple, but you will also learn many curiosities about its history and, above all, the influence that the temple had on it. Queen isabel II.

On your visit you will initially be surprised by the large carved wooden doors that give access to the church.

As soon as you enter you will see that the interior is made up of a large circular nave on which the imposing dome of the Basilica of Saint Francis the Great.

Six chapels are arranged around it, like the neo-Byzantine one of the Sanctuarythose of Goya o Santiago, And the Very pure, with its large marble altar that was once brought from Florence on a long journey that lasted 12 years!!

Between the different chapels there are large sculptures of the 12 apostles, with a size of 2,38 meters high each.

In choir you will see two large organs, one from the end of the 19th century, and the other, as a curiosity, I will tell you that it is false, since its only purpose is to safeguard symmetry.

From High altar What will surprise you most is the spectacular Renaissance choir stalls made in 1526, which was brought from the Parral Monastery in Segovia.

Likewise, they will also catch your attention pulpits made of marble Carrara.

In the visit of Saint Francis the Great You will access interior rooms, such as the Sacristy, where you will see a stucco ashlar.

But, above all, it is worth highlighting various works by prestigious painters, such as Zurbaran, Lucas Giordano, Francisco Pacheco o Alonso Cano, which you can see in the ante-sacristy.

Basilica of Saint Francis the Great Schedule

The Visiting hours of the Basilica of San Francisco el Grande in Madrid They are, from Tuesday to Saturday, from 10,30:12,30 a.m. to 16:18 p.m., and from XNUMX p.m. to XNUMX p.m.

And in the months of July, August and September, from Tuesday to Sunday, with the same schedule in the morning, and from 17 to 19 p.m. in the afternoon.

The ticket prices to visit San Francisco the Great They are the general rate, 3 euros, and for groups, seniors, students and the unemployed, 2 euros.

Photos Basilica of Saint Francis the Great

Here you have more photos of the Basilica of Saint Francis the Great, a visit to make on your trip to Madrid.