Convent of San Francisco

Built in the 13th century, only the chapel of Merás, built in 1613 by D. Pedro Merás, nowadays joined to the main nave, remains of the Convent of San Francisco.

It stands out for its antiquity and its position at the highest point of the town. Its ogival doorway is influenced by Byzantine art, with saw-toothed windows, chequered cornice and three columns on one side, also stamping its mark on the three pointed arches, supported by groups of columns.

It fully corresponds to the Mendicant typology: a single nave, wide and open, most probably covered with a wooden frame. Such a choice cannot be considered the result of chance, but was aimed at achieving a building in which the architectural obstacles would not impair either acoustics or visibility, as it should be remembered that one of the main activities of the minors was preaching.

The Franciscan convent of Tineo/Tinéu had a cloister and chapter house from these early times, of which we only know from the detailed descriptions of Don Ciriaco Miguel Vigil.

Inside the church is the Museum of Sacred Art of Tineo/Tinéu, which includes a large collection of pieces from the council.