CAPUCHOS CONVENT (CONVENTO DOS CAPUCHOS)

The small cells, corridors and sparse living space give the visitor an insight into the lives led by the brotherhood and instils a profound impression. The interior resembles a rabbit warren, the lack of space is somewhat claustrophobic. The cells were incredibly small, requiring the monks to carve foot holes in the walls to lay down comfortably. The doorways were also tiny, suggesting the monks were of short stature. The vast amount of cork insulating the walls must also have been useful as protected padding. The monestery is small with accommodation for only eight monks, the most famous of whom was Friar Honório who lived here 15 years in isolation and penance yet lived to the grand old age of a hundred.

Along with the monks' cells, the site also contains rooms for visitors, a small courtyard, a library, a dining area adjoining the kitchen, an infirmary, two chapels and a latrine. When King Filipe I of Portugal (Filipe II of Spain) visited the convent in 1581 he famously remarked: "In all of my kingdoms, there are two things I have that greatly please me, El Escorial because it is so rich and the Convent of Santa Cruz because it is so poor".

The monastery was designed to blend in with its surroundings effortlessly, but after an extended period of disuse, nature has taken it back. The overgrown foliage adds to the mystical beauty of the place. There were no attempts to create any man-made beautification but instead pay homage to nature's wonderment. In places, the convent's stark walls seem indistinguishable from the forests rock formations and boulders. The site is isolated, a 4.5 mile (7 km) trek along a wooded road, which only adds to the peacefulness of this site. The site is well-known for its frequent foggy conditions, which create a unique and special atmosphere. The 19th-century romantic poets were enchanted by its beauty, inspiring the likes of Lord Byron in his poem Childe Harold's Pilgrimage. After the dissolution of the monasteries in Portugal in 1834, the convent was abandoned and was subsequently bought in 1873 by Francis Cook, the first Viscount of Monserrate, and later in 1949, the land was nationalised. The Capuchos Convent is part of the Cultural Landscape of Sintra and was classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage in 1995.

TRAVELLING TO THE CAPUCHOS CONVENT

There are hiking trails signposted between the historic centre and the Capuchos Convent (Convento dos Capuchos).

Contact Details
São Pedro de Penaferrim, Serra de Sintra, Sintra 2710-405, Portugal. | 38° 46' 58.5" N | 09° 26' 08.9" W
+351 219 237 300 | info@parquesdesintra.pt |  Website