Batalha Monastery

BATALHA MONASTERY

The Monastery of Batalha, literally the Monastery of the Battle, is a Dominican convent in the civil parish of Batalha. Originally, and officially known, as the Monastery of Saint Mary of the Victory, it was erected in commemoration of the 1385 Battle of Aljubarrota, and would serve as the burial church of the 15th-Century Aviz dynasty of Portuguese royals. It is one of the best and original examples of Late Gothic architecture in Portugal, intermingled with the Manueline style.

It took over a century to build, starting in 1386 and ending circa 1517, spanning the reign of seven kings. It took the efforts of fifteen architects, but for seven of them the title was no more than an honorary title bestowed on them.