Monasteries of Alcobaca and Batalha, Portugal - UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Place: Monasteries of Alcobaca and Batalha, Portugal

Weather:  Showers and thunderstorms, 52/61F.

Route: From Tomar 65 km west on IC9 and N8.

Significance: Built over 100 years apart, these monasteries are both great symbols of Portugal. The Monastery of Alcobaca was founded by King Alfonso in the 12th century and was built mostly in the 13th century.  The monastery was organized and run by the Cistercians, who took what had been a fallow land after battles with Muslims, and made it into productive farmland. 

Batalha means "battle" in Portuguese. The monastery was built in 1385 to celebrate battle of Aljubarrota, when the Portuguese defended themselves against the Spanish Castilians, who invaded Portugal - hoping to take advantage of a crisis in the line of succession of the Portuguese royalty.

Websites: Alcobaca UNESCO World Heritage Site, Batalha UNESCO World Heritage Site

Videos:

Alcobaca:

Batalha:

Images:

The main church at Alcobaca (from whc.unesco.org)

The church at Batalha (from whc.unesco.org)