Convent of San Francisco in Santiago

In reality, the Franciscans are thought to have arrived in Santiago around 1220 and received the support of Archbishop Bernardo II. In the early days, they settled in a place called Vallis Dei, the same site where the current monastery still stands. This land, which was later expanded, was ceded by the Benedictines of San Martiño Pinario. The construction of the house was slow and was funded through contributions from various wealthy individuals in the city, among whom Fernán Pérez Cotolaya († 1238) stood out. His name is associated with the coal merchant Cotolay, who, according to tradition, accepted Saint Francis of Assisi's foundational commission.

The convent complex was rebuilt between the 17th and 18th centuries due to the deterioration of the medieval construction. During the second half of the 17th century, the conventual part of the house was renovated and organized around two cloisters. The original church was demolished in 1741, and the following year, construction began on the new Baroque church. At that time, its orientation was also changed, shifting to a north-south axis. The former chancel would have been located at the foot of the current church.