Page 353 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

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carry towering structures made the Moorish stronghold of
of 30 loaves of bread on their Santarém. To commemorate the
heads. They parade through the victory, he gave land and
main square, Praça da República. money to build a church to the
The square’s focal point is the Cistercians. Completed in 1223,
15th-century Gothic church of the church is a beautiful
São João Baptista. Tomar is also building of austere simplicity.
home to one of Portugal’s oldest Portugal’s rulers continued to
synagogues, now the Museu endow the monastery, notably
Luso-Hebraico de Abraham King Dinis (1279–1325), who
Zacuto, a Jewish museum. added the main cloister, known
as the Cloister of Silence. In the
R Convento de Cristo Sala dos Reis, 18th-century tiles
Tel 249-313 481. Open daily. Closed depict the founding of the
Jan 1, Easter, May 1, Dec 25. & abbey, and statues of Portuguese
kings adorn the walls.
Among those buried here are
the tragic lovers King Pedro
(1357–67) and his murdered
mistress, Inês de Castro (d.1355),
whose tombs face each other Manueline portal leading to the Unfinished
across the transept of the abbey Chapels at Batalha
church. Inês’ death was ordered
by Pedro’s father, Afonso IV UNESCO World Heritage site. The
(1325–57). After Afonso’s death, pale limestone monastery was
Pedro had two of Inês’ murderers built to celebrate João I’s historic
killed brutally. He then had her victory at Aljubarrota in 1385.
body exhumed and reburied. Today, the abbey still has military
One of Alcobaça’s most popular significance: two unknown
The Convento de Cristo, Tomar features is the vast kitchen. Here soldiers from World War I lie
whole oxen could be roasted in the chapter house. João I,
on a spit inside the fireplace his English wife, Philippa of
5 Alcobaça and a specially diverted stream Lancaster, and their son, Henry
Praça 25 de Abril, Alcobaça. Tel 262- provided a constant water supply. the Navigator, are also buried
505 120. @ from Lisbon or Coimbra. here, in the Founder’s Chapel.
Open daily. Closed Jan 1, Easter, 6 Batalha The abbey was begun in 1388
May 1, Aug 20, Dec 25. & and work continued for the next
∑ mosteiroalcobaca.pt Mosteiro de Santa Maria da Vitória, two centuries. King Duarte,
Batalha. Tel 244-765 497. @ from João’s son, began an octagonal
The Mosteiro de Santa Maria de Lisbon, Leiria, Porto de Mós & Fátima. mausoleum for the royal house
Alcobaça is Portugal’s largest Open daily. Closed Jan 1, Easter Sun, of Avis. The project was taken
church and a UNESCO World May 1, Dec 25. & (1st Sun in month). up again, but then abandoned
Heritage site. Founded in 1153, by Manuel I. It is now known as
the abbey is closely linked to the The Dominican Abbey of Santa the Unfinished Chapels. Much
arrival of the Cistercian order in Maria da Vitória at Batalha is a of the decoration of the abbey
Portugal in 1138, as well as to the masterpiece of Portuguese is in the Manueline style.
birth of the nation. In March 1147, Gothic architecture and a
Afonso Henriques conquered

The magnificent Gothic tomb of Pedro I in the transept of the monastery church at Alcobaça

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