World Heritage

The Monastery of Alcobaça (or the Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Alcobaça) was the first major structure in Gothic architecture to be built in Portugal. The works began in 1178 and were carried out by Cistercian monks. The Monastery of Alcobaça is also the resting place of King Pedro I and Inês de Castro, the protagonists of the most famous (and tragic) Portuguese love story. Located in the Church’s transept, their tombs are true masterpieces of Gothic sculpture!

The Monastery of Batalha, officially the Monastery of Saint Mary of the Victory, is a Manueline-style monument that was built by King João I. Located in the town of Batalha, in the Leiria district, it was dedicated to the Virgin Mary after the Portuguese victory in the Battle of Aljubarrota! The Monastery of Batalha 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 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!