Religious Temples

The Convent of Christ in Tomar was one of the first Portuguese monuments declared World Heritage. Founded by the Templars as a symbol of the Reconquista, its construction began in 1160 and lasted more than 500 years! As a result, the Convent of Christ incorporated different architectural styles: Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline, Renaissance, Mannerist, and Baroque. With the extinction of the Order of Solomon’s Temple, the castle was handed over to the Order of Christ, adopting its current name!

The Jerónimos Monastery (in Portuguese, Mosteiro dos Jerónimos), officially the Monastery of Santa Maria de Belém, is a Manueline-style monument that was built by King Manuel I. Situated in Belém, one of the most touristy areas of Lisbon, it’s the most visited cultural space in Portugal. The Jerónimos Monastery was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983 and declared one of the “7 Wonders of Portugal” in 2007. In addition, it gained the status of National Pantheon in 2016!

The Convent of the Capuchos is one of the least visited monuments in the Cultural Landscape of Sintra because it’s not served by public transportation. But if you prefer to discover places with few people, then you really need to explore this former Franciscan convent! Built with low environmental impact and in perfect harmony with the green landscape that surrounds it, the Convent of the Capuchos is the ideal place for outdoor lovers. In fact, it looks like it was sculpted by Mother Nature!