Page 170 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Portugal

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MOSTEIRO DE SANTA

MARIA DE ALCOBAÇA

EXPERIENCE Estremadura and Ribatejo Portugal’s largest church, the monastery at Alcobaça is renowned for Tomb of
! D4 ⌂ Praça 25 de Abril, Alcobaça @ From Lisbon, Coimbra & Leiria # Apr–Sep:
9am–7pm daily; Oct–Mar: 9am–6pm daily (last adm 30 mins before closing) ¢ 1 Jan,
Easter, 1 May, 20 Aug, 25 Dec ∑ mosteiroalcobaca.pt
its simple medieval architecture and its illustrious history.

Founded in 1153, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is
Pedro I
closely linked to the arrival of the Cistercian order in
Portugal 15 years earlier, as well as the birth of the
nation. To commem orate his victory over the Moorish
stronghold of Santarém in March 1147, King Afonso
Henriques vowed to build a monastery for the
Cistercians. Originally, the monks lived in wooden
houses on the site until the vast stone building
was habitable in 1223. The monastery was
further endowed by other monarchs, notably
King Dinis, who built the main cloister. Among
those buried here are the tragic lovers King
Pedro and his murdered mistress Inês.
Tomb of Inês
de Castro
Dormitory

The chapterhouse
was where the
monks met to
discuss issues.
The kitchen’s huge
chimney, in which
oxen could In the Refectory a
monk would read
be roasted
from the Bible as
the others ate.
The octagonal lavabo
was where the monks Cloister of
washed their hands. Dom Dinis
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