The monastery of Batalha officially named the monastery of Santa Maria da Vitória was built after the battle of Albujarota of 1385 by king João I.
It was built as a thanks for the kings victory in the battle which ensured him the throne of Portugal and guaranteed Portugal’s independence from Spain.
The building of this immense monument took over 150 years and this is the reason we see both Gothic and Manualine represented in the monastery.
The monastery belonged to the Dominican order who where not monks but friars meaning that they did not live such an isolated existence and had an important function in the society as charity work, helping the poor, preaching and evangelism.
Over the centuries aspect have been added to the monastery that today includes a church, two cloisters with annexed dependencies and two royal pantheons, the Founder’s Chapel and the Unfinished Chapels.
The monastery has been a Unesco world heritage site since 1983.
To read more about the monastery please visit the official government site. mosteirobatalha.pt (english version)
