City: Portugal
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10 Sacred & Religious Sites in Portugal That You Shouldn't Miss
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1. Mosteiro dos Jeronimos
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 30,695 reviews
No expense was spared when they built this masterpiece of Manueline and Gothic architecture in 1502, which was inspired by Vasco da Gama who is buried here with other great navigators of the past.
Reviewed By dewdee - Bangkok, Thailand
This 500 year old monastery is absolutely beautiful on the inside out. If you're a history buff, I recommend buying the combo 12 euro ticket which gives you access to the archaeological museum adjoining the monastery as well. Every step is worth a photo and the architecture is really stunning inside. There is also a special exhibit right now on the upper level explaining the historical timeline of the place compared alongside important milestones in Portugal's history. Very informative and educational. This is a worthwhile visit because the surrounding Belem areas are all tourist attractions and is accessible by direct bus or tram from the city center.
2. Capela dos Ossos
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,483 reviews
The walls and pillars of the chapel, built in the century XVII, are lined with thousands of human bones and skulls. Ceilings with murals realtivas death. Written on a plaque next to the door, the phrase "We bones that are here for your hope", reminds us how fleeting passage through life.
Reviewed By jonahNJ - Pennington, United States
The one place I was really looking forward to visiting in Portugal was the Chapel of The Bones. Once inside this relatively small chapel, it exceeded my expectations! Note that the chapel is small, so there is a staggering of groups admitted to the chapel. However, the visitors moved along well during my visit. Just outside of the chapel is a poem which compels travelers to ponder their existence. If that was not enough of a prompt, just over the entrance to the chapel is the engraved warning “Nós ossos que aqui estamos pelos vossos esperamos” which loosely translates to “We bones that are here, we are waiting for yours." I then entered the chapel and sure enough all of the walls and pillars are covered in a variety of human bones and skulls. Skulls are also used to trim portions of the ceiling. During my visit, I learned that approximately 5,000 skeletons from church cemeteries in Evora were used to “decorate” the chapel. Visiting this small chapel was one of the most surreal experiences of my life and a must see for visitors to Evora.
3. Cathedral of Evora (Se Catedral de Evora)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,119 reviews
Roman-Gothic 12th century cathedral. Guard a valuable treasure. Spectacular visit the cloisters of the cathedral and coverage, with magnificent views of the historic center. Is part of the monumental complex as a Unesco World Heritage
Reviewed By IndySig - Indianapolis, United States
We enjoyed viewing and walking around this old beauty. The cloister area was interesting with the spiral staircase and beautiful vaulted roof. Plus, the Madonna and the crypts were fascinating. The views from the top were great of the city and the cathedral was interesting. A great visit.
4. Old Cathedral of Coimbra (Se Velha de Coimbra)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,092 reviews
Reviewed By Margo7850p
Old Cathedral of Coimbra was built in 1162 and is one of the most characteristic monuments of Romanesque architecture in Portugal. From the outside, it looks like a fortress. The cathedral has been preserved almost intact to this day. On the other hand, the beautiful renaissance gate added to the northern wall of the temple is rather heavily damaged. A gem of architecture. It's definitely worth seeing while in Coimbra.
5. Monastery of Alcobaca
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,243 reviews
Reviewed By VadimM67 - Murmansk, Russia
There are two reasons to visit the monastery of Santa Maria de Alcobaça: to see one of the seven wonders of Portugal and the embodiment of the terrible love story of Pedro and Ines in stone. Despite the unusually beautiful baroque facade, reconstructed at the beginning of the XVIII century, mnastir itself is very modest, which corresponds to the price of an entrance ticket of 6 euros. The reason for the modesty is that the monastery belonged to the Cistercian order, whose main principle was to live by their work, and not to accumulate wealth. Naturally, the energy of messianism supplanted them. Including in Portugal. The asceticism of the order is reflected in the architecture of the monastery, founded in 1178-four years after the canonization of Bernard of Clairvaux, the main ideologue. The monastery of Alcobaça in the Early Gothic style reflects the way of life of the Cistercians. Simple lines, without unnecessary decorations and gilding. Most of the monastery's statues are made by the monks themselves. Tourists love manual work. Even this little was lost during the third French campaign in 1810. For example, the wooden choirs burned down and the church stands without them. But Portugal's largest library was looted. As the French say: a la guerre comme a la guerre.But the kitchen has been preserved! It is equipped with a water supply system, in the mechanism of which water still circulates. The water came through an artificial drainage system from the Alcoa River (hence the name of the city). The chimney, under which the fire was built, and the stone table for cutting food were preserved..There are as many as five cloisters in the monastery, although I did not see all of them during my visit. It is interesting that in the monastery of silence it was forbidden to talk, and in the monastery of reading the monks did not read, but listened to the readings. Some believe that the monasteries are not one, but five-according to the number of cloisters. But the most interesting thing is not in the monasteries, but in the royal tomb. The practice of collective burials of crowned heads was widely practiced in Europe: . in the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg, in the Medici Chapel in Florence, of course, in the Escorial. The main thing in Alcobas is the tombs of Ines de Castro and King Pedro I (1320-1367). Their sarcophagi are decorated with stone carvings that reflect both biblical stories and scenes of everyday life. Their story is often compared to Romeo and Juliet, but even Shakespeare's imagination could not make up this story of love and medieval cruelty. This story is told by all the guides.The heir to the throne, Pedro, in addition to his wife Constance, had a mistress, a Castilian noblewoman Ines de Castro, who gave birth to four illegitimate children . Father Pedro Afonso IV, fearing that the Portuguese throne would fall into the hands of the Castilians (as happened in the XVI century), ordered Pedro to abandon Ines. As Shakespeare's Romeo Pedro refused, then the king's assassins killed Inez in front of one of the children. Then comes the story "King Lear" Pedro rebelled against his father, who died during the war, and Pedro became king. Then a modified "Hamlet". Pedro obtained the extradition of two murderers from Castile and personally tore out their hearts. One through the chest, the other through the back, this doesn`t yet explain why we see the sarcophagi of Pedro and Ines next to each other in the monastery. Pedro ordered Ines's remains to be removed (after 6 years!) from the tomb, dressed the skeleton in royal robes and a crown, and forced the courtiers to swear an oath to the new queen by kissing the hem of her dress. Almost like Pope Stephen VI in 897. The king buries the queen with honors, and nearby builds a sarcophagus for himself to see his beloved at the Last Judgment. We see the inscription on the sarcophagus: Até o fim do mundo.. "Until the end of the world.".."
6. Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Nazare
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 678 reviews
Reviewed By 478incon - Bruges, Belgium
Beautiful old church from the glory days of Portugal. Pay 1 Euro and visit the old chappel with corridir stil plastered with the Original azulejos. Don't mis it when you go to Nazaré
7. Capela das Almas
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,087 reviews
Reviewed By naila_al - Baku, Azerbaijan
Located in the middle of the pedestrian Santa Catarina street this beautiful church has an amazing exterior design. Take a minute (may be with coffee, as I did), sit on the bench and just observe the scenes reflected on the walls.
8. Santuario Nossa Senhora dos Remedios
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,024 reviews
Reviewed By Cres - Lisbon, Portugal
the Sanctuary is a place of unique characteristics. worth a visit as well the city of Lamego. easy access by car.
9. Convento dos Capuchos
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 558 reviews
The "Capuchos Convent" or "Cork Convent" was established in 1560 by Dom Alvaro de Castro, Counsellor of State to King Sebastiao, with the name Convento de Santa Cruz da Serra de Sintra. It is noteworthy for the extreme poverty of its construction, which represents the ideal of the Order of St. Francis of Assisi, and for the extensive use of cork in the protection and decoration of its small spaces.
Reviewed By Margo7850p
An authentic monastery built in the heart of the Sintra Nature Park. The Convent of the Capuchos is a historical convent consisting of small quarters and public spaces located in the civil parish of Sao Pedro de Penaferrim, in the municipality of Sintra. Poverty was the central notion which ruled the construction of the Convent of the Capuchos. Fascinating to see how they lived in such simplicity. The site is located in the rural part of Sintra, along the northeastern flank of the Sintra Mountains, approximately 325 metres above sea level, in a location marked by dense vegetation and accentuated slopes. The minimalist convent was erected in perfect harmony with its surroundings, implanted in the rocks and boulders that formed this part of the Sintra Mountains. A good place to enjoy nature and see how the Franciscans lived in the 16th century without wealth. A quiet place with peace and greenery all around. Really interesting place, away from the main tourist routes. Not many tourists, peace and contemplative mood. Beautiful garden, pleasant walk. In place routes thought out for tourists - with lighting inside the buildings. There are parking, toilets and places for a rest. A beautiful drive there. Though all drives in this area mean narrow, winding, mountain roads.
10. Igreja do Colegio Sao Joao Evangelista
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 198 reviews
Reviewed By LindaW587 - Tewkesbury, United Kingdom
This is one of the most beautiful churches I have ever seen. It is in the centre of Funchal and the ornate interior is breathtaking with so much gold and tiling. Well worth a visit.
