St. Vicente de Fora Monastery
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Basic info
Type of attraction
Monastery
Portuguese name
Mosteiro de S. Vicente de Fora
Tab 2 content.
Tab 2 content.
How to visit
Prices
Adult: 8,00€
Senior (over 65): 6,00€
Young (under 25): 4,00€
Lisbon Card: 7,00€
Guided Tour*: Ticket + 2,00€
*Booking is mandatory.
*Duration: about 90 min.
Free access
- Children (under 12)
- Disabled visitors (60%)
Opening times
10 am – 6 pm (daily)
Last admission: 5 pm
Closing days
Jan 1, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, May 1 & Dec 25
Location
Largo de São Vicente, 1100-472 Lisboa
Public transports
Metro:
Blue line > Santa Apolónia station
+13 min walk
Green line > Martim Moniz station
+Tram 28E or 12 min walk
Train:
Santa Apolónia Railway Station
+13 min walk
Bus: 10B, 13B, 734, 797 > Voz Operário (Stop)
Tram: 28E > Voz Operário (Stop)
More details
- Church & Monastery: regarded as the first major mannerist building in Portugal, admired for its traditional Portuguese tiles.
- Cistern: a remnant of the medieval monastery.
- Entrance Hall: features ceiling paintings by Vincenzo Baccarelli and tile panels representing the christian conquest of Lisbon.
- Sacristy: admired for its colorful marble inlays with floral motifs (18th century).
- Royal Pantheon of the Bragança: the final resting place of the Bragança dynasty, the fourth and last royal lineage of Portugal.
- Chapel of “Children of Palhavã”: with an elegant tomb that pays homage to two of the King John V’s illegitimate sons.
- “Fables of La Fontaine” Tiles: 38 tile panels that originally decorated the cloister. They represent vivid scenes from Jean de La Fontaine’s fables.
1147 – As a result of his victory in the conquest of Lisbon, King Afonso Henriques fulfills his promise and orders the construction of a early monastery dedicated to St. Vincent.
1173 – St. Vincent is proclaimed patron saint of Lisbon. King Afonso Henriques orders the transfer of the saint’s relics to the city.
1580-1640 – Philippine Dynasty. King Philip I orders the reconstruction of the Monastery. Filippo Terzi, Juan Herrera and Baltazar Álvares are the main architects engaged in the project.
17th-18th centuries – Reigns of Peter II and John V. The Monastery gains most of its opulent decoration.
1834 – Religious Orders are abolished. The conventual area is transformed into an episcopal palace.
19th century – By order of Fernando II the Pantheon of the House of Bragança is installed in the former monks’ refectory. The Monastery becomes the property of the State.
1952 – The former Chapter room is converted into the Pantheon of Patriarchs.
the surroundings
- National Pantheon (500 m)
- Fado Museum (600 m)
- Lisbon Cathedral (850 m)
- St. Anthony Church (950 m)
- Church & Museum of São Roque (1,6 km)
- Parreirinha de São Vicente (170 m)
- Augusto Lisboa (200 m)
- Damas (220 m)
- Quase Café (260 m)
- Copenhagen Coffee Lab (300 m)