ALCOBAÇA

The Royal Abbey of Santa Maria, also known as Alcobaça Monastery, is a prime example of early Gothic architecture in Europe. It was built in 1153 on the orders of Afonso Henriques, Portugal's first king after he emerged victorious over the Moors during the Christian Crusades in central Iberia.

In 1178 AD, King Afonso Henriques assigned Abbot Bernard of Clairvaux, the founder of the Order of Cistercians, to oversee the building of the Monastery. The construction was based on the design of the Order's primary church in France, the Abbey of Claraval.

The initial building constructed in this location was the first Gothic church ever built in Portugal. Presently, only the Gothic portico and the rose window have survived from the original façade. During the 17th and 18th centuries, significant alterations were made to the façade of the building, including the addition of twin bell towers. The figures flanking the portico are of São Bento and São Bernardo.

As you enter the church you will be struck by the impressive central nave. Its lack of adornments gives it a sense of an elevated grandeur. The church has a floor plan of a Latin cross and, in keeping with the Gothic style, boasts a lofty ceiling. The lateral aisles of the nave in Alcobaça church are as high as the central one, giving the building a magnific and impressive feel. Even after 800 years, it remains the largest church in Portugal.

Visitors can find the two tombs of the tragic couple Dom Pedro and Dona Inés in the transept. Their marvellously decorated tombs face each other and are carved effigies of these famous lovers laying recumbent, crowned and together for eternity. Each tomb is inscribed with the phrase "Até ao fim do mundo” (Until the end of the world). You can walk around the church in 20 minutes and there is no entrance fee. To access the Sacristy, go through an ornate Manueline doorway and down a corridor with ribbed vaulting. The original Sacristy was rebuilt following the 1755 earthquake.

The Reliquary Chapel is a stunning feature of the New Sacristy, known for its exceptional beauty and nicknamed the "Mirror of Heaven" by Reynaldo dos Santos. Abbot Constantino de Sampaio oversaw its construction from 1669 to 1672, and its interior is arranged in an octagonal layout. The entire space is adorned with gilded wood carvings strikingly illuminated by natural light pouring in through skylights in the cupola ceiling.

Immediately to the left inside the church is the Hall of Kings (Sala dos Reis) which today serves as the ticket office for the monastery. The room dates from the 17th century. The walls are adorned with azulejo tiles depicting the siege of Santarém, Dom Afonso's vow, and the founding of the monastery. Standing on their pedestals halfway up the walls are the sculptures which give the room its name. Carved by the resident monks, the statues represent virtually every King of Portugal until Dom José, who died in 1777.

The monastic buildings were built right after the church was constructed. They are mainly simple and plain, which reflects the Cistercian belief in simplicity. Visitors can explore the complexities of the monk's simple life for a small entrance fee. The heart of the monastery is the cloisters, known as Claustro de Dom Dinis, which were constructed during the reign of King Dinis, estimated to be between 1308 and 1311. The King's cloisters are one of five sets and were created by Domingo Domingues and Master Diogo. The Cloister of King Dinis I is nicknamed the Cloister of Silence because it was where monks would meditate in contemplation.

The lower floor of this building is home to one of Portugal's best examples of Medieval cloisters. Thin columns wind around the buttresses, forming three arches topped with a rosette. The upper floor, designed by Diogo and João de Castilho, was added later during the reign of Manuel I (1495-1521). Adjacent to the cloisters, visitors can explore the Gothic Fountain Hall, which features a beautiful early Renaissance water basin adorned with Renaissance motifs and the monastery's coat-of-arms.

In the 17th century, the Afonso VI Cloister replaced the original kitchens. The only remaining component from the original kitchens is a Romanesque door. The replacement kitchen is located near the Refectory and features an impressive 18-meter chimney supported by eight pillars. The fireplace was designed to roast a whole ox. The chimney and interior walls are both adorned with glazed tiles. Water from the river Alcoa supplies a water basin to the rear of the room. The kitchen is opulent in contrast to the stark living quarters of the monks and the abstinent nature of the Cloister of Silence.

Next to the kitchens, the Refectory is a cavernous vaulted chamber where the monks ate in silence. In the western wall, there is an arched staircase that leads to a beautiful pulpit. Monks used to read passages from the Bible here to help with their digestion.
The dormitory is a similar large gothic vaulted room where the monks slept, except for the abbot, who had his own private quarters. In the 1930s partitions dividing the individual cells in the dormitory were removed.

The Chapter House is where the monks gathered to discuss daily matters concerning the monastery. Proceedings started each day with a chapter read from the Rule of St Benedict. The entrance to the Chapter House is through a Romanesque portal with two similar windows on each side. The room is currently filled with baroque statues carved by the monks intended for the main chapel of the church.
Low Season: 09h30 - 18h00, High Season: 09h30 - 19h00.

Adult: €6.00, Combined Ticket: Alcobaça, Batalha, Convento de Cristo: €15.00, Concessionary: €3.00, Child under 12: FREE, Sundays up to 14h00: FREE.
Lisbon Card: FREE

Contact Details
Mosteiro de Alcobaça, 2460-018, Alcobaça, Portugal.
39° 32' 54.2"N | 08° 58' 48.2"W | +351 262 505 120 | mosteiro.alcobaca@igespar.pt

This castle has endured a tumultuous history, leaving little of its original structure. The walls visible today were constructed in the 12th Century after the Reconquista, replacing a 6th Century Moorish fortification which was repeatedly attacked by Christian forces. Strategically located on a hill overlooking the town, the castle's slopes were used by Cistercian monks to cultivate grapes, beginning the town's winemaking tradition. Despite four earthquakes and pillaging by locals, some rebuilding was done in the 1950s, preserving seven square turrets and a Moorish watchtower called "Torre dos sete sobrados." However, the best reason to visit is the breathtaking view from this vantage point, which offers stunning vistas of the Monastery and town below.

The National Wine Museum is situated in a former winery constructed by José Raposo de Magalhães, a trailblazer in wine production in the Alcobaça region. The winery and land were first owned by the Monastery. Upon acquiring the winery, Magalhães initiated modern grape cultivation and implemented cutting-edge wine production techniques, which led to the region gaining recognition, credibility, and wealth from its high-quality wines both locally and internationally. When the phylloxera pandemic struck, Magalhães replaced Alcobaça's vines by using grafts from France. Portugal's biggest wine museum is the National Wine Museum, which houses over 8,500 artefacts connected to oenology and related trades. Visitors can observe portable presses, barrels, historic wine labels, bottles, farming tools, and copper stills that have been gathered from throughout the country. A fascinating tour of the cellars and distillery is available, culminating in a wine tasting.
Tuesday - Friday: 09h00 - 11h30/14h00 - 17h00, Weekends: 10h00 - 12h30/13h30 - 16h00,
Adult: €4.00, Concessionary Disabled, Student, Youth card & OAP: €2.50, Child under 12: FREE

Contact Details
Rua de Leiria Olival Fechado, Alcobaça, Portugal.
39° 33' 08.0"N | 08° 58' 38.9"W | +351 262 582 750 | museus@cm-alcobaca.pt

There's another monastery close to Alcobaça in the village of Cós and it is one of the largest Cistercian nunneries in Portugal. Despite its grim and dilapidated exterior, the Monastery of Santa Maria Cós is a treasure trove of history and culture. Founded by the Abbot of Alcobaça in the 13th Century, it is one of the most significant monastic complexes in the region and serves as the primary monastery for Cistercian nuns. Its original construction began in the 12th century, sometime after the Alcobaça Abbey, as a place for widows who wanted to lead a monastic life. Between 1558 and 1670, it gained significance and underwent expansion. The interior is decorated in an exquisite early Portuguese Baroque style, complete with a carved wood ceiling, 17th and 18th-century azulejo tiles, and gilded altars. The ten azulejo tile panels depict the life of Saint Bernardo de Claraval (Clairvaux), a promoter of the Cistercian order. A gilded screen remains which was once used to separate the cloistered nuns from the ordinary folk. The monastery was declared a Building of Public Interest in 1946 and has undergone much restoration work since.
Tuesday - Saturday: 09h30 - 12h30/14h00 - 18h00, Sunday: 14h00 - 18h00, Monday: CLOSED.

Entrance: FREE

Contact Details
6 Rua de Santa Rita 2460 Coz, Alcobaça, Portugal.
39° 35' 54.3"N | 08° 57' 20.5"W | +351 262 582 750 | juntafcoz@mail.telepac.pt