Church of the Venerable Third Order · Ciudad Rodrigo (EN)

The Third Order of St. Francis for seculars had several venues for their meetings and celebrations until, finally, in 1789, they got their own space when the religious of St. John gave them the church of the Holy Sepulchre that belonged to their Encomienda. Given the poor condition of the building, they built a new church on the same site, designed by Juan de Sagarvinaga and executed by Ventura Muiños. Of neoclassical style, the most striking feature is its façade, with a portico in which six Doric columns flank the semicircular arched entrance. Over them runs a frieze with triglyphs and metopes and a massive body in which the coats of arms of the Franciscan order are observed, that of the Order of San Juan with the cross and that of San Luis king of France, patron of the Order, with the fleur-de-lis. They animate the facade an oculus and a niche with the figure of the saint. It is topped with a double belfry.