The Batalha Monastery

As it was custom during the Middle Ages, some rulers of Europe used to build churches or monasteries in order to give thanks for a military victory, such is the case with the Batalha Monastery built after a 1385 battle in which King Joao’s army was outnumbered by the Castilians and still managed to win – ‘batalha’ actually means battle in Portuguese.

The monastery was built and dedicated to the Virgin Mary, because since the king was victorious it meant that Portugal gained its independence from Spain, and the king gave the monastery to the Dominicans.

The actual building took about two centuries to finish, and it features Gothic and Manueline styles, however it was dissolved as a monastery, along with all the other monasteries in the country in 1834

The west façade is covered in lacy stonework and features Gothic windows, it also overlooks a very spacious plaza; those who visit it at night will see it spectacularly illuminated. You’ll also see an octagonal building attached to the right of the church, this is the Founder’s Chapel.

When it comes to the west portal of the church, this one is decorated with a Gothic sculpture: an arc-shaped tympanum which depicts Christ in Majesty with the Evangelists, and angels, saints and biblical figures look on from six archivolts.

The doors are actually flanked by free-standing statues of the Twelve Apostles, each one of them being unique in appearance. We should note that the façade contains the largest stained-glass window in Portuguese Gothic architecture.

You can walk around the east end of the monastery and get a great view of the apse and of the Unfinished Chapels, while at the southeast corner you’ll see the equestrian statue of Nuno Alvares.

The nave is made up of three-aisles which feature vertical lines of pure Gothic style, and the windows are of quite exceptional beauty.

The Batalha Monastery is just one of the many more religious sites that you can visit while on your trip to Portugal, make sure you employ our Portugal car rental services to have an easy time of it.