Alcobaça Monastery

Alcobaça Monastery (Mosteiro de Santa Maria de Alcobaça) dominates Praça 25 de Abril in the town of Alcobaça, in the Leiria district of central Portugal. Founded by Afonso Henriques in 1153 for the Cistercian order and begun soon after, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the earliest and finest Gothic churches in Portugal. The nave is strikingly plain and tall, with a length of about 100 metres and slender pillars that draw the eye upward, in the austere Cistercian style, in contrast to the Baroque facade. Inside the church lie the tombs of King Pedro I and Inês de Castro, whose tragic love story is among the best known in Portugal. Their tombs, carved in the 14th century, face each other so that they might see each other upon rising on judgement day. The visit continues through the Cloister of Silence with its Gothic and Manueline arches, the Chapter House, the Monks' Room, a vast kitchen with a river-fed water channel and a huge chimney, and the Monks' Dormitory. A visit takes 1.5 to 2 hours. The best photographs are taken inside the nave, where light falls on the pale limestone, and in the cloister. Crowds are heaviest from late morning until mid-afternoon, with tour groups from Lisbon who combine Alcobaça with Batalha and Nazaré, so early arrival or the last hour before closing is more peaceful. Tickets are sold at the entrance, and the church has free access in some conditions. The town is famous for its sweet convent pastries and Ginjinha-style liqueur, and has cafes around the square. Audio guides and printed guides help explain the architecture.