Santa Maria da Vitoria

The construction of the monastery began in the international Gothic style in 1385 vow by king joão I in gratitude to the virgin for the king won the victory over the Castilians in the battle of Aljubarrota.


The monastery in the sparsely populated town of Batalha seems huge and powerful. Unusual impression creates a color structure: greyish-Golden limestone eventually became oxidized and has acquired an extraordinary variety of shades. From a distance he seems menacing and mystical, but it is necessary to look closer into the truth of a great creation.


During construction, which lasted over a hundred years, was replaced by 7 kings and 15 architects, the monastery was never finished. Three-aisled Basilica with transept and five apses, decorated simply and concisely. The height of the Cathedral nave is a 32 meters! It is so high that it seems pierces the sky.


The unfinished chapel of the Dominican monastery – the most amazing part of the complex. Originally they were built as a future Board all of the Portuguese rulers. However, this function began to perform other building. For this reason, the chapel remained unfinished. In the beginning of XVI century there was built a magnificent gate, which was to connect the chapel to the Cathedral. These arches of stone lace became a symbol of the Battles. Dominican monastery Battle hymn of praise called the Manueline style.


Along the walls of the chapel, on the broad bed of a marble sarcophagus, lie the crowned figure of joão I and Queen Philippa. The king is dressed in armor and holding a sword, the Queen in a ceremonial robe. The sarcophagus stands on six stone lions.


On the South wall of the chapel, in niches, are the tombs of the Infante, including Henry the Navigator. On the East side set the sarcophagus of king Afonso V.


Rumor has it that in the monastery of Batalha in Portugal, the stained glass Windows that were brought from Germany. These stained glass Windows definitely deserve special attention.


The monastery of Santa Maria da Vitoria was listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1983.

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