"On June 8, 2014, at the IBEREX 2014 Philatelic Exhibition, two new personalized stamps were presented dedicated to the Coat of Arms of Ourense that occupies the stained glass window of the Ourense City Hall and another from the recently restored Cloister of San Francisco.
One more way to continue spreading our heritage."
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"The beautiful St. Francis’ Cloister, a gem of Galician Gothic architecture, testifies to the existence of an old convent in the upper part of Ourense, on the Montealegre hill. It was founded in the 14th century, after the fire that destroyed the first Franciscan convent in the city, located in the current Mayor’s Square. The order remained here until the 19th century.
In 1843 the old convent was transformed into infantry headquarters, which would remain active until 1984. The change of uses triggered numerous reforms. The most significant was, in 1951, the transfer of the church’s chancel and façade to St Lazarus’ Park, where it remains to this day. The orphaned cloister can now be visited.
Declared a National Historic Monument in 1923, St Francis’ Cloister has outlived its eventful history, preserving the beauty of its 63 arches practically intact, all decorated with plant, animal (real and fantastic) and human motifs carved in stone. Although it is considered a clear example of Galician Gothic, the Romanesque influence is very present."
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