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The 10 Best Sacred & Religious Sites in Central Portugal, Portugal
1. Convento de Cristo
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3,164 reviews
Reviewed By Civls444
In order to see as much as possible of this extraordinary architectural and historical jewel you should allow a minimum of two hours. Just when you think you have explored every open room...wait! There is still more to see and marvel at. Don't be afraid to peek behind curtains and venture up small staircases.....
2. 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.
3. Igreja da Sao Vicente de Fora
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 582 reviews
Reviewed By eddg2019
If you want to see excellent examples of Portuguese tiles, in addition to the Tile Museum. This is the place to come. The monastery houses a museum containing the largest collection of Baroque Portuguese tiles. Don't miss the nearby church of Sant Vincent. The church’s façade is in the austere Mannerist style of the late Renaissance. It also has two towers while the interior has a barrel ceiling and huge dome. Be sue to climb to the rooftop for spectacular views. Saint Vincent is the patron saint of Lisbon, but his popularity pales in comparison to that of St. Anthony.
4. Igreja de Sao Roque
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,078 reviews
Reviewed By eddg2019
Taken together, the Church and Museum of Saint Roque are among Lisbon’s most important artistic, cultural, and historic repositories. In addition to the main altar, the church is noteworthy for its side chapels, particularly that of St. John the Baptist with its central mosaic panel that looks like a painting on canvas, the gilt wood Chapel of Our Lady of Doctrine, and the tile work of the Chapel of São Roque. The painted ceiling is the only one extent from the Mannerist period. The adjoining museum houses one of the most important collections of sacred art, which includes paintings, sculpture, metalwork, reliquaries, altar frontals, and the treasure of the Chapel of Saint John the Baptist.
5. Santo Antonio de Lisboa
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,255 reviews
Reviewed By LostALot22 - Chicago, United States
This old church was really wonderful. The alter was amazing and it is pretty well maintained. It doesn't take long to look at. And I really ejoy the old churches of Europe.
6. 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.
7. 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.".."
8. 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
9. Sinagoga de Belmonte
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 103 reviews
Reviewed By manonthemove1812 - Mahwah, United States
Our visit to Belmonte included a stop at the Synagogue where we met several members of the community who seemed genuinely happy to greet visitors to their community. The synagogue is active and has various weekly activities for the Annucim and other Jews of Portugal who want to connect to their heritage. They welcomed us warmly and explained their background and connection to the Sefardic community who were instrumental in helping fund their lovely building. Best to make an appointment before visiting, as building may not be open at all times.
10. Igreja de Sao Domingos (Santa Justa e Rufina)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 954 reviews
Reviewed By Margo7850p
The Church of Sao Domingos is situated Between Rossio and Praca da Figueira, It is one of the most beautiful churches in the city. It was built in the 13th century by order of King D. Sancho II, but the work, repairs, earthquake and fires completely changed the original medieval structure. Partially rebuilt after the fire , the ceiling was erected, the walls were not renovated. There are still blackened areas. It is simple, but at the same time impresses with its huge stone columns. A wonderful church that you should see while in Lisbon.
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