Abadia de Alcobaça, Cistercian monastery in Alcobaça, Portugal
Abadia de Alcobaça is a Cistercian monastery with a Latin cross church featuring three naves and high stone vaulted ceilings. The interior is lit naturally through large windows and displays the simple architectural style favored by this monastic order.
King Afonso Henriques founded the monastery in 1153 following his military victory at Santarém and granted extensive lands to the Cistercian community. This gift made the monks one of the wealthiest religious groups in the region.
The monastery holds the tombs of King Pedro I and Inês de Castro with detailed Gothic carvings that show how important this couple was in medieval society. The artworks still tell stories about love and power that visitors discover while walking through the church.
The monastery is open daily and allows visitors to explore the different areas at their own pace. It is good to set aside enough time to properly see the church, the tombs, and the historic rooms throughout the complex.
The monastery has a water channel diverted from the Alcoa River that brought fresh water and live fish directly to the monks' kitchen. This system was an engineering solution that supplied the community with natural resources without them having to leave the building.
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