Igrexa de San Francisco de Betanzos

The Igrexa de San Francisco in Betanzos is a stunning Gothic church built in the second half of the 14th century, thanks to the patronage of Fernán Peres de Andrade, commonly known as O Boo, who commissioned the construction of the church. It was completed sometime before Fernán Peres de Andrade's death in 1397. The church was later declared a Monumento Nacional in 1919 and later a Bien de Interesse Cultural. The church has a Latin cross shape with a polygonal apse and a vaulted ceiling.

The main doorway depicts the Adoration of the Magi. The church's exterior features rose windows and Gothic stained glass, as well as figurative gargoyles. At the top of the church, a cross is sustained by a chimera. Inside the church, the main chapel houses a relief depicting God surrounded by the four evangelists, with angels playing a variety of instruments. The vault is adorned with angels playing various instruments, and one playing the bagpipe.

The church is home to a collection of 16 sarcophagi of various members of the Andrade family. Fernán Pérez de Andrade's sarcophagus is considered a precedent of medieval funeral sculpture. The sarcophagus stands elevated on bearings, representing animals typical of the Andrade: a bear and a chimera. The shield of arms of the Andrade is present at the head and foot of the sarcophagus. The sides of the sarcophagus feature various scenes of hunting the chimera. Above the sarcophagus, a laud represents the figure of the knight, dressed in armor and in a resting position.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons