Updated: 25/07/2025

Alcobaça Monastery, Portugal | Walking tours

Discover a world of beauty and wonder as you take a walking tour of the Alcobaça Monastery! Located just 45 kilometers from Lisbon, this stunning monastery was built in 1178 by monks of the Cistercian Order and remains one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal.

Founded in 1153 by the first King of Portugal, Afonso Henriques, the Mosteiro de Alcobaça is one of the most important and impressive medieval monuments in the country. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this grand Cistercian monastery is a prime example of early Gothic architecture in Portugal and reflects the austere beauty and harmony typical of the Cistercian order.

The monastery houses the famous tombs of King Pedro I and Inês de Castro, whose tragic love story is one of the most poignant in Portuguese history. Their intricately carved tombs face each other so that, according to legend, they may be reunited in the afterlife. Beyond its historical romance, the complex includes vast monastic halls, serene cloisters, and an awe-inspiring church — once the largest in Portugal.

Located in the charming town of Alcobaça, the monastery offers a journey through centuries of devotion, architecture, and deeply human stories that continue to captivate all who visit.