| One thing Spain does better than many other | | | | If you enter one of the three doors nearest the circular |
| countries, is offer magnificent buildings to see, and learn | | | | portion of the building, you may find the San Bernardino |
| about. One such building is the Basilica de San | | | | de Siena chapel. Look at the paintings on the wall here. |
| Francisco El Grande, or church of San Francisco in | | | | One is a Goya painting of the saint, the other is a |
| Madrid. When it comes to the most important places | | | | self-portrait from Goya. |
| to see in Madrid, this is right up there at the top of the | | | | While the church may not have been constructed until |
| list. To get an idea of how massive this building, the | | | | the middle of the 18th century, that does not mean |
| dome atop the church of San Francisco is larger than | | | | everything inside is from the 18th century. On the |
| that on St. Paul's Cathedral. It is architecturally | | | | contrary, many of the items in the church are much, |
| astounding. Inside the church are a number of | | | | much older. Even the choir stalls are from the 16th |
| sculptures and paintings that are a dream to view for | | | | century, Gothic pieces from Segovia. |
| art lovers. | | | | In addition to the Goya paintings in the San Bernardino |
| Created with Neo-classical design, the church of San | | | | de Siena, there are other painted masterpieces by |
| Francisco towers over a portion of old Madrid. The | | | | artists such as Maella, Cano, and Zurbarán, not |
| dome roof is a massive portion of the three-sectioned | | | | to mention beautiful sculptures in marble by artists such |
| building. And while it looks large from the outside, you | | | | as Benlliure and Bellver. |
| cannot really understand the magnitude of it until you | | | | While it may seem like the church is more of an art |
| view the 108 foot open ceiling from the inside. The | | | | sanctuary, with so many masterpieces inside, it is also |
| interior is a vision, decorated with highly-detailed stained | | | | a fully operational cathedral. While visitors are |
| glass windows and frescoes. Considered one of the | | | | welcome, they will be accompanied by a guide and |
| most beautiful cathedrals in all of Europe, it is a sight | | | | are asked to remain silent as a sign of respect as |
| that leaves many in awe. | | | | they pass through. |
| When it comes to the history of the basilica, it was | | | | When you are planning your sightseeing tour schedule, |
| created under the reign of Carlos III in 1760. Even the | | | | the church of San Francisco is easy to get to. It is |
| grounds the church was built on had a religious history, | | | | located in the Plaza de San Francisco el Grande, and |
| having been a Franciscan convent in the past. It is | | | | can be accessed from the La Latina of Puerta del |
| believed the original convent was founded by St. | | | | Toledo Metro stops. The place is a bit away from |
| Francis of Assisi himself in 1217. The entryway is a set | | | | Costa Blanca homes in the south of Spain but is |
| of seven hand carved, fantastic walnut doors that | | | | certainly worth the trip. |
| take guests inside the chapels. | | | | |