Convento de Nossa Senhora do Desterro, Franciscan monastery in Monchique, Portugal.
Convento de Nossa Senhora do Desterro is a former Franciscan monastery perched on a hillside above Monchique, composed of stone structures, roofless cloisters, and a chapel room. The complex spreads across multiple levels and displays the typical layout of a monastic community with residential, functional, and prayer spaces.
The monastery was founded in 1631 and survived the devastating 1755 earthquake despite significant damage, enduring until 1834. Its closure came about through the dissolution of religious orders in Portugal during the 19th century.
The monastery served as a center of learning and spiritual life for the surrounding community across generations. Visitors can still sense this educational purpose in the stone rooms that once functioned as classrooms.
The monastery sits on private property but visitors can reach it via a walking path from central Monchique, expecting a moderate uphill route. Entering the grounds requires care and respect for the historical structures, which remain in varying states of preservation.
Two brothers who lived at the monastery remained on site during the 2018 wildfires that swept through the region and protected the structures from destruction. Their actions preserved an important piece of local history that might otherwise have been lost.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
