Convento de Varatojo, building in Torres Vedras, Lisbon District, Portugal
Convento de Varatojo is a 15th-century convent in central Portugal that has been expanded over the centuries with elements of different architectural styles including Gothic, Manueline, Mannerist, and Baroque. The courtyard is bright and open with arches, while the church is simply designed and contains a small chapel with marble inlays and gold carvings.
The convent was founded in 1474 by King Afonso V, who dedicated it to Saint Anthony in thanks for military victories in North Africa. The Franciscans, who have lived there since its founding, left the convent twice during political upheavals and returned in 1928.
The convent was founded by King Afonso V and named after a saint revered in the region. The connection between royal history and religious life appears in the buildings and artwork that visitors notice while walking through the spaces.
Entry is through three small steps at the entrance where visitors can ring a bell to call a Franciscan who will guide the visit. The convent is open to visitors on weekdays and Saturday mornings, offering access to the courtyard and church through an old wooden side door.
A special feature inside the convent is the well-preserved Mudéjar ceiling with wood and plaster patterns from long ago. On the hilltop beside the convent stand old windmills from which you can view the surrounding landscape and see the sea in the distance.
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