Monastery of São Vicente de Fora

The Monastery of São Vicente de Fora is a building with two towers and a white facade decorated with carved niches and statues. Inside are a church, cloisters, and the burial places of the Braganza royal family.

A king founded this monastery in the 12th century after the city was freed from foreign occupation. The building was later renewed and changed, with different architectural styles added over the centuries.

The tiles covering the interior walls show religious scenes and everyday moments that artisans carefully placed over the centuries. They tell stories from the Bible and fables that visitors discover while walking through the corridors.

You can enter the different rooms through the church and cloisters, where it is easy to find your way around. It is wise to wear comfortable shoes, as you will be walking through many areas to explore.

The building still has an old water storage system from the 12th century that collects rainwater. This system works to this day and shows how people long ago managed their water supply.

Location: São Vicente

Inception: 1147

Architects: Filippo Terzi

Architectural style: Romanesque architecture, Mannerist architecture, baroque architecture

GPS coordinates: 38.71472,-9.12778

Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:02