Batalha, Alcobaça, Tomar — transfer from Lisbon to Porto

First, we will visit the Templar fortress in Tomar, built by the Knights of the Temple at the end of the 12th century. After the dissolution of this military-religious order, many buildings of the Monastery of the Order of Christ, which replaced the Templars in Portugal, were added to the old fortress. The ensemble was built by different kings in different periods, but the most fascinating part is the interior of the rotunda with painted walls and paintings, as well as the famous Tomar window made of carved stone. If you wish, we will visit the former 15th-century synagogue in Tomar, now a museum.

We go to the Batalha Monastery, built in gratitude to Our Lady, who made possible on 1385 the Portuguese victory over the superior Castilian (Spanish) army in the Battle of Aljubarrota, which is considered the moment of formation of national identity. 1385 is also the year of the formation of the second dynasty of Portuguese monarchs, and almost the entire dynasty is buried in this monastery, making it not just a masterpiece of late Gothic, but also a national pantheon. You will also see how frugal the Portuguese are, even when it comes to the Eternal Flame in honor of the defenders of their homeland!

Finally, we will visit the first Gothic monastery in Portugal, the Cistercian monastery in Alcobaça. The austerity and majesty of the grandiose church emphasizes the incredibly sad story of two lovers, the prince Pedro and Inês de Castro. Their  stone sarcophagi stand waiting for the Last Judgment so that the lovers can be reunited!

This full-day tour is a great option for transfer Lisbon-Porto.

If you want, you can replace one of the monasteries with the panoramic Cape Nazare, where the ocean sends up waves 34 meters high in winter!