São Francisco Square in the Town of São Cristóvão, Brazil

São Francisco Square in the town of São Cristóvão is an urban landscape that reflects the history of the town. 

The Square contains the Francisco Church and convent, the Church and Santa Casa da Misericórdia, the Provincial Palace and the associated houses of different historical periods surrounding the Square.

The São Francisco Square constitutes a coherent and harmonious ensemble which merges the patterns of land occupation followed by Portugal and the norms defined for towns established by Spain.

São Cristóvão was founded at the mouth of the Vaza-Barris River in 1590. It was the first capital of the State of Sergipe and the fourth oldest settlement in Brazil.

The city was completely destroyed in 1637 by the Dutch. Its reconstruction, started by the Portugese in 1645, was slow but with strong religious ties which can be seen in the city today. 

São Cristóvão served as a permanent bridge between the cities of Salvador in Bahia, and Olinda in Pernambuco, and as a guard for access to important rivers in the region, which were in constant danger of attack by French pirates.

This Square incorporates the concept of a Plaza Mayor as employed in the colonial cities of Hispanic America, while at the same time inserted in the urban pattern of a Portuguese colonial town in a tropical landscape.

The São Francisco Square is an outstanding example of harmonious and coherent architectural ensemble that has been preserved as a social landmark of the town and a place for important cultural and social manifestations. It shows a paradigm of integrated rational town planning and adaptation to the specificities of the local topography.

The São Francisco Square was protected by the state government in 1938 as a historic monument, and several surrounding buildings were listed in the following decades. It was declared nationally by IPHAN in 1967 and its World Heritage designation was in 2010.

The Square and associated buildings within the nominated property are authentic in terms of the way they portray their historical and social significance within the life of the town. Works to the Square itself have retained its characteristics while improving the infrastructure, amenities and security for pedestrians.