Convent of São Boaventura in Santa Cruz das Flores

The Convent of São Boaventura (Convento de São Boaventura, Saint Bonaventure) stands in the centre of Santa Cruz das Flores, on the island of Flores in the Portuguese Azores. Locals commonly call its church the Church of São Francisco. The complex also houses the island's ethnographic museum, so one visit combines a historic religious site with a look at traditional life on Flores.

Where is the convent?

It sits in Largo da Misericórdia, in the heart of Santa Cruz das Flores, the seat of the municipality of the same name. Its coordinates are roughly 39.45° N, 31.13° W. The town is small, so the convent is easy to include in a walk around the local sights.

How did the convent begin?

Its origins go back to 14 July 1640, the feast day of Saint Bonaventure. A Flores-born priest, Inácio Coelho, brother of the Franciscan friar Diogo das Chagas, made a vow: once Portugal regained independence from Spanish rule, he would create the conditions for founding a convent. Independence was restored, and on 26 June 1641 a deed donating land for construction was drawn up. Coelho also left a substantial income in his will to support the friars. Construction is dated to around 1641.

What is there to see in the church?

The church is relatively large and tall, with a rectangular plan and no transept. It has a single nave under a painted wooden vault. The retables are made of gilded cedar wood, and the ceiling is decorated mainly with plant and flower motifs. The interior is known for its carved woodwork. A 15th-century panel of the Annunciation of the Virgin is another highlight.

A museum in the former convent

The convent buildings host the ethnographic museum of Santa Cruz das Flores (Museu das Flores). It is a good place to learn about the traditions and daily life of people on one of the westernmost islands of the Azores.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Church of São Francisco the same building? Yes. The convent church of São Boaventura is popularly called the Church of São Francisco because of its Franciscan roots.

When was the convent founded? The vow was made in 1640, the land donation deed was drawn up in 1641, and construction is dated to around 1641.

What is inside today? The ethnographic museum of Santa Cruz das Flores.

Can I walk there from the town centre? Yes, it is in Largo da Misericórdia, in the middle of town.