Batalha
Every year in August, grand celebrations are held near the monastery to commemorate this victory.
Masterpiece of Portuguese Gothic, the Batalha Monastery It is a magnificent architectural example that combines various influences resulting from its extensive construction period that spanned several reigns.
Inside, the highlights include the Founders' Chapel with magnificent stained glass windows, the cloisters, the Imperfect or unfinished Chapels, profusely decorated with elements in the Manueline and flamboyant Gothic styles, and the Chapter House.
Around the Monastery, some 18th-century houses remain, one of which has been converted into a guesthouse, and the main church deserves special mention, with its beautiful Manueline portal.
The Monastery
Near the site of the Batalha Monastery, a decisive event occurred on August 14, 1385, for the consolidation of the Portuguese nation: King John, Master of Avis and future King of Portugal, defeated the Castilian armies at the Battle of Aljubarrota. This victory ended a dynastic crisis that had been lingering since 1383, with the death of King Ferdinand, whose only daughter was married to the King of Castile, a pretender to the Portuguese throne.
- João dedicated the monastery to the Virgin Mary, whom he had invoked to intercede for victory with God, and donated it to the Dominican Order, to which his confessor belonged. This was the reason for the birth of a project whose construction would last almost two centuries and which resulted in one of the most fascinating Gothic monuments in the Iberian Peninsula. Its architectural value and historical significance were the reasons for the building's designation as a World Heritage Site in 1983.
Besides a must-visit inside, if you can, don't miss the spectacle of the Batalha Monastery's nighttime lighting, which highlights its exuberant beauty and gives the intricate stonework an expression of magnificence you'll never forget.
Batalha Monastery can be reached in about 80 minutes by car from Quinta da Palmeira – Country House Retreat & Spa.
