BATALHA MONASTERY (MOSTEIRO DE SANTA MARIA DA VITÓRIA)

Did you know that "Batalha" means "Battle" in Portuguese? This name comes from the Battle of Aljubarrota, a significant event in Portuguese history when the Castilians were defeated in 1385. Before the battle, Dom João I made a holy promise to the Virgin Mary, vowing to build a mighty Cathedral if victorious.

After the death of King Ferdinand I of Portugal in 1383, a dispute arose over the succession of the Portuguese crown since he had no male heirs. This led to a civil war in which Castile became involved. In 1386, a skilled group of English longbow archers played a crucial part in the triumph at Aljubarrota. As a result, both nations willingly agreed to sign the Treaty of Windsor, forming an enduring and genuine friendship. As per the agreement, Dom João got married to Philippa, the daughter of John of Gaunt. You can see a reference to the pivotal battle in the form of an equestrian statue of Nuno Alvares Pereira, the king's commander at the battle, situated in front of the southern facade.

The Monastery's construction started in 1386 and took over a century, spanning seven monarchs' reigns. It reflects the architectural styles of that era, including Rayonnant Gothic and Manueline, and was influenced by fifteen different architects. The master architect Afonso Domingues created the initial plans for the site, and his work is evident throughout, including the Claustro Real cloister and the Sala do Capítulo (Chapterhouse). Domingues worked on the plans until 1402. There are influences of English Gothic in the plans, in possible recognition of the English troops who fought at Aljubarrota.

Domingues was followed by Huguet from 1402 to 1438, who added a more flamboyant style typical of the late Gothic period. This is most evident in the main façade, the dome of the square chapter house, the Founder's Chapel, the basic structure of the Imperfect Chapels and the north and east naves of the main cloister.

Between 1448 and 1477 the task of building the Monastery fell to Fernão de Évora, who added the Cloister of Afonso V. His successor, Mateus Fernandes the Elder, added most of the Manueline flourishes around the portals and windows, most notably in the Capelas Imperfeitas. The enormous effort of building Batalha Monastery finally ended in the mid-sixteenth century when João III decided to put all his efforts into the construction of the magnificent Jerónimos Monastery in Belém, Lisbon.

During the period of construction, it was the burial site of the Aviz dynasty of Portuguese royals. The monastery survived the 1755 earthquake unscathed, only to be sacked and burned by invading Napoleonic forces in 1810. After the dissolution of the monasteries in 1834, the Dominicans were expelled. The church and convent were abandoned. After four years of neglect, King Ferdinand II had the foresight to restore the complex, a process lasting 60 years. Batalha Abbey was declared a national monument in 1907. In 1983 it was added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage sites.

The abbey contains numerous decorative elements, such as the fleur-de-lis patterns carved into the balustrades, the crockets on the pinnacles and the incredible craftsmanship bordering the portals and windows. The vertical elements like pilasters, gothic arched windows, and others create an illusion of the structure ascending towards heaven.

Gain entrance through the west façade and stop to admire the carvings that adorn this portal. Flanking the entrance are sculptures of the twelve apostles, all with unique features. Once you step inside the archway, you'll see sculptures of biblical figures playing musical instruments from the Middle Ages. In the apex of the arch in high relief is a statue of Christ in Majesty accompanied by the Evangelists.

This little town is only on the tourist map because of its magnificent internationally famous Dominican abbey. Most visitors arrive by tour bus and leave without experiencing Batalha town. Yet for the savvy traveller, Batalha makes a great base for venturing out from. The town lies in the Lena Valley in the Leira district north of Lisbon and within a day-tripping distance of Alcobaça, Fatima, Leiria, Óbidos, Peniche and Nazaré. Once the tour buses leave the cafés and restaurants which border the abbey can give you more time and personal service

PONTE DA BOUTACA

This present construction replaces the original built by Diogo Boytac and from whom the bridge acquired its name. A French artist who contributed to the construction of the monastery here in Batalha as we all as Jeronimos in Belém. Its six gothic arches span the river Calvaria and were built in the second half of the 19th century incorporating the Revivalist and neo-Gothic styles. It is the only bridge in the country that still has its toll road houses intact and now houses collections of local arts and crafts. It was classified as a building of public interest in 1982 and included in the special protection zone of the Monastery of Batalha.

IGREJA MATRIZ DA EXALTAÇÃO DE SANTA CRUZ
(Igreja Matriz da Exaltação de Santa Cruz)

Somewhat overshadowed by the magnificent Abbey, the Igreja Matriz da Exaltação de Santa Cruz church is still worth a glance over if you're passing by. Its most impressive feature is the ornate Gothic come Manueline portal. It was built in 1540 to serve the construction team working at the Abbey. The interior is quite austere with the altar carved from local marble.