Monastery of Alcobaça
The Monastery of Alcobaça was one of the first Cistercian foundations in Portugal. It became the main centre of this religious order, as a result of a continuous policy of royal protection begun by King Afonso Henriques. The Monastery’s extant medieval structures are unique in the world. Besides, its later additions, dating from the 16th through to the 18th centuries, bear an important testimony to the evolution of Portuguese architecture.
Foundation of the Abbey of Saint Mary of Alcobaça and its donation charter date from 8 April 1153. The Cistercian land was therefore delimited by then. On the contrary, the borders of the Kingdom of Portugal advanced south towards the Tagus River following the conquest of the towns of Santarém and Lisbon in 1147. This move called for a quick and efficient human settlement so that the Christian expansion would proceed southwards. Militia from the Order of the Temple protected the lands held in demesne from Moorish invasions. The focal point for this dynamics was the abbey, its construction having begun in 1178. This date has an important “strategic” meaning as four years later Saint Bernard was canonised. It was certainly one of the first abbeys of this Order to be built with this intention in mind. The importance of the Monastery of Alcobaça increased accordingly in cultural, religious and ideological terms. The more limpid and austere its architecture, the more obvious its monumentality became. It was surely the first example of Gothic architecture in Portugal: a model that would only be reproduced much later as it was originally an isolated white jewel against a vast landscape. The Monastery is inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
Contents edited by DDCI.
Contacts and
Localization
- Governing body:
- DGPC
- Director:
- Ana Fátima Pagará
- Address:
- Mosteiro de Alcobaça, 2460 - 018 Alcobaça
- GPS:
- Lat: 39.54821543268398 Long: -8.979928493499756
- Phone(s):
- +351 262 505 120
- E-mail:
- geral@malcobaca.dgpc.pt
- Site:
- http://www.mosteiroalcobaca.pt/
How to get there: De Lisboa ou Leiria – A8 até à saída Alcobaça/Nazaré/Valado dos Frades, depois EN 8-5 em direção a Alcobaça. Alternativa A1, saída Leiria, por Norte ou Aveiras por Sul, depois IC2
Urban Bus: Expresso
Parking facilities: Parking facilities: free parking is available for cars and buses in the monument's own car park.
Accessibility: There is accessibility for persons with reduced mobility on the ground floor through the Monk’s Hall, D. Dinis Cloister, Chapter House, Refectory, Kitchen and Church. This service is available on request (at the reception), or by advance reservation.
From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (last entry at 5:30 p.m.)
The ticket office closes 30 minutes before the monument closes.
It closes on 1 January, Easter Sunday, 1 May, 20th august, 24 and 25 December.
Admission
Standard ticket: 6 €
Payment methods: cash, Visa, ATM card and cheque.
DGPC online tickets - buy here
Conditions of entry to DGPC Museums and Monuments – click here
Exemptions:
The entrance is free in National Museums and Monuments at sundays and holidays for residents in Portugal.
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Coordinator: Cecília Gil
Technical assistants: Ana Filipa Delgado and Filipa Miguel
Tel.: + 351 262 505120
E-mail: servicoseducativos@malcobaca.dgpc.pt
There are daily guided visits for national students
For further information, please visit the Monastery’s website
Access: A1 or A8 motorway; by Express bus.
FAQs (frequently asked questions)
Cultural Agenda
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01/27/2018
Presentations/ Book releases
Apresentação do livro "A tumulária Medieval - Abadia de Alcobaça", de Maria Augusta Pablo Trindade Ferreira -
06/29/2018
Music
26.º Cistermúsica - Festival de Música de Alcobaça -
07/14/2018
Exhibitions
Exposição 'Os Túmulos de D. Dinis e do Infante' | Um Novo Olhar -
07/28/2018
Visitas Guiadas
Visitas orientadas aos "Túmulos de D. Dinis e do Infante" e à "Alegoria da Sala dos Reis" -
11/24/2018
Presentations/ Book releases
Apresentação de dois livros da coleção Estudos Monásticos Alcobacences -
05/24/2019
Music
23ª Semana Internacional do Acordeão Alcobaça 2019 -
06/28/2019
Music
27º Edição do Festival CISTERMÚSICA -
06/29/2019
Atividades - Serviços Educativos
Fim-de-semana em Família no Mosteiro de Alcobaça -
07/19/2019
Exhibitions
Arqueologia em Portugal: recuperar o passado em 2017 Evento de divulgação científica -
11/14/2019
Exhibitions
XXI Mostra de Doces & Licores Conventuais 2019 -
03/20/2020
Visitas Guiadas
Visite o Mosteiro de Alcobaça a partir de casa -
03/21/2020
Visitas Guiadas
Comemoração do Dia da Água | Caminhada à beira de água. O antigo sistema hidráulico da Abadia de Alcobaça por Virgolino Ferreira Jorge -
05/20/2020
Presentations/ Book releases
Reabertura dos museus monumentos e palácios nacionais Esperamos por si! Visite-nos! -
06/02/2020
Presentations/ Book releases
Convite à Leitura | Livro para crianças Imagina um Tesouro -
07/22/2020
Shows
Festival Cistermúsica 2020 -
08/24/2020
Shows
GRAVÍSSIMO - 10.º Festival e Academia Internacional de Metais Graves de Alcobaça 2020
Shop
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Chávenas de café
Coffee cup and saucer "Um Arquitecto/ Um Monumento"- Mosteiro de Alcobaça -
Brincos
Earrings "Asas de anjo" - Mosteiro de Alcobaça -
Colares
Necklace "Angel's wings"- Mosteiro de Alcobaça -
Publications
Ratio Fecit Diversum. Essais sur l'Abbaye d'Alcobaça -
Publications
RATIO FECIT DIVERSUM. ENSAIOS S/ABADIA ALCOBAÇA -
Publications
À MESA NAS TERRAS DE ALCOBAÇA EM FINAIS IDADE MÉDIA -
Publications
O Scriptorium de Alcobaça: o longo percurso do livro português
Museus e Monumentos
Museums and monuments are unique places providing memorable learning experiences found crucial for creating an identity.
Due to their beauty and setting, their collections and cultural programmes, these spaces convey values, they arouse memories and interact with our contemporary world. This area will give you access to useful information regarding 25 Museums and Monuments under our care.
You will also have access to information regarding 156 museums comprising the Portuguese Museums Network, all of which have been accredited by the DGPC.