If you went on a trip to Portugal, then you need to visit the monastery of Alcobas. Our short article will tell about the history of a religious institution. This Cisterian monastery is located in the small Portuguese town of Alcobasa. It was founded by the first king of Portugal - Athos Enriques - in 1153. All 9 centuries of existence, the complex was inextricably linked with the royal dynasty of Portugal. And in 1989, UNESCO listed the monastery of Santa Maria de Alcobas as a World Heritage Site for its great historical and artistic significance.
The foundation of the monastery
When in 1147 the Portuguese king and his army defeated the Moors, it was decided to build a monastery in honor of this victory. But the construction began many years later, namely in 1178, when the monks of the Cisterian order came to the Portuguese region. At first, white monks lived in wooden buildings, but already in 1223 the monastic order moved to stone buildings. And by 1252 the construction of the temple came to an end.
In the XIII century, they completed the construction of a Gothic temple. This was the final touch in the history of the construction of the monastery of Alcobas in Portugal. In the second half of the XIII century, a public school opens on its territory. Most monks worked in large agricultural fields. And during the XIII-XIV centuries, members of the ruling dynasty were buried in this monastery. Today, the tombs of such persons as Afonso II, Afonso III, Pedro Pervy, Beatrice of Castile and Iness de Castro have been preserved. They sleep forever in Gothic tombs.
Century of expansion and destruction
In the XVIII century, significant changes took place on the territory of the monastery complex. Its area has expanded significantly. The monks added a new cloister, as well as a tower that was adjacent to the church building. Surprisingly, the medieval manner of construction was preserved. But, unfortunately, in 1755 there was a strong earthquake. However, it did not cause significant damage, only some buildings were damaged, as well as the sacristy.
But this is not the worst event in the life of a beautiful monastery. The monastery of Alcobas suffered tremendous damage during the Napoleonic Wars. His army defeated one of the richest and largest libraries, destroyed the graves, and also set fire to the interior of the church. In 1834, the religious order of the monks was dissolved, as a result of which they left the monastery. Therefore, today it is one of the most beautiful and popular tourist attractions in modern Portugal.
What is inside?
The interior of the Alcobas monastery is rather modest. Its construction took place without any special decorations. Thus, it becomes clear why there are very few sculptures on the territory of the monastery. The most important of them is the statue of the Virgin - Virgin Mary. The main building is the basilica, it is three-nave. This means that the premises are stretched out like a ship. There are arched vaults along one of the two walls throughout the entire structure. The sight is amazing.
In the transverse nave (transept) are the royal tombs of Pedro the First and his favorite, Iness de Castro, who, after death, was recognized by his wife. Their tombs were created by unknown authors. The world art community considers these buildings a masterpiece of Gothic sculpture. The thing is that the tomb of Pedro the First is held by the statues of lions, and the tomb of his wife is supported by half-animals and half-men. The king has four sides of the tomb decorated with reliefs, and they depict various biblical subjects, in particular episodes from the life of St. Bartholomew. The female tomb is decorated with episodes from the life of the Son of God.
Other premises
The area of the monastery is very large, has many halls. The attention of visitors will be drawn to the chapel of St. Bernard, which is located on the south side of the monastery. Near it is a sculpture, which is the best work of the 17th century. Near the chapel, the bodies of the kings of Athos are betrayed.
As practice has shown, the visitors of the monastery are also interested in the pantheon of kings, which was built in the Neo-Gothic style. There are tombs of persons of the ruling dynasty at that time and noble nobles. Most distinguished is the tomb of Queen Uraka, who passed away in 1220. The grave is surrounded by reliefs depicting the apostles.
The hall in which the monks ate food - the refectorium, deserves attention. The white monks had this: when all the brothers had a meal, one of them was reading the Bible. The monastic hostel is a huge Gothic hall. Surprisingly, there is not a single cell. All the brothers slept in one big hall. But the abbot had a separate room.
The kitchen of the monastery also deserves attention. Its walls were tiled only in the XVIII century. Pure water and fresh fish got into the dining room through a special channel, which originated in the Alcoa River. And in the kitchen there was a central exhaust pipe, it is supported by 8 metal columns.
Opening hours of the monastery of Alcobas
The monastery complex receives visitors daily from morning to evening. October-March: from 9:00 to 18:00. In the warm season, the complex works an hour longer. April-September: from 9:00 to 19:00. Weekends: January 1, Easter, May 1, August 20, December 25.
An entrance ticket costs 6 euros, but if you want to visit three monasteries at once, you will have to buy a combined ticket, the cost of which is 15 euros.
Our article has come to an end. The Alcobas Monastery in Portugal is a very beautiful, quiet and mysterious place. Not so long ago, it was restored. Today, you can often visit the chamber concert, which takes place within the walls of the monastery. Have a nice trip!