Two new UNESCO’s World Heritage sites in Portugal: Royal Building of Mafra and Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga

UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee has inscribed two new cultural sites in Portugal:

The Royal Building of Mafra: Palace, Basilica, Convent, Cerco Garden and Hunting Park (tapada) and the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga.  As of today Portugal has 17 tangible cultural heritage sites.

- Royal Building of Mafra – Palace, Basilica, Convent, Cerco Garden and Hunting Park (tapada)

Located 30 km northwest of Lisbon, the site was conceived by King João V in 1711 as a tangible representation of his conception of the monarchy and the State. This imposing quadrangular building houses the king’s and queen's palaces, the royal chapel, shaped like a Roman baroque basilica, a Franciscan monastery and a library containing 36,000 volumes. The complex is completed by the Cerco garden, with its geometric layout, and the royal hunting park (Tapada). The Royal Mafra Building is one of the most remarkable works undertaken by King João V, which illustrates the power and reach of the Portuguese Empire. João V adopted Roman and Italian baroque architectural and artistic models and commissioned works of art that make Mafra an exceptional example of Italian Baroque.

-Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte, in Braga

The site, a cultural landscape located on the slopes of Mount Espinho, overlooking the city of Braga in the north of Portugal, evokes Christian Jerusalem, recreating a sacred mount crowned with a church. The sanctuary was developed over a period of more than 600 years, primarily in a Baroque style, and illustrates a European tradition of creating Sacri Monti (sacred mountains), promoted by the Catholic Church at the Council of Trent in the 16th century, in reaction to the Protestant Reformation. The Bom Jesus ensemble is centred on a Via Crucis that leads up the western slope of the mount. It includes a series of chapels that house sculptures evoking the Passion of Christ, as well as fountains, allegorical sculptures and formal gardens. The Via Crucis culminates at the church, which was built between 1784 and 1811. The granite buildings have whitewashed plaster façades, framed by exposed stonework. The celebrated Stairway of the Five Senses, with its walls, steps, fountains, statues and other ornamental elements, is the most emblematic Baroque work within the property.

Find more information about it at:
- http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/
- https://en.unesco.org/news/six-cultural-sites-added-unescos-world-heritage-list

Source: UNESCO

Visit the Convent of Christ

©Igespar

UNESCO has classified this unique monument as a World Heritage site.
It is a symbol of both Western history and the history of Portugal.

Walking through the ancient streets of Tomar or the leafy park by the river, the Templars’ Castle always remains in sight.

 Gualdim Pais, Master of the Order of the Temple in Portugal, chose the hill on which to build the fortress in 1160. It was around this time that work began on the Charola or Rotunda (octagonal church,) modelled on the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The convent buildings grew up around it when the Order of the Temple was transferred to the Order of the Knights of Christ, which took over all its property. At the same point in history, Prince Henry the Navigator was to lead the Portuguese nation to the maritime Discoveries, taking the Templar Cross to the seven corners of the world.
In the reign of King Manuel I, a new series of art inspired by the sea was created at the monument. The Templars’ Church is decorated with paintings and sculptures of exceptional quality. The west façade of the chapter house contains an amazing window, depicting waves, ropes, fantastic animals, angels, kings, armillary spheres and the Cross of the Order of Christ, all carved in stone.

Take your time to look around this grand convent and discover its fascinating history.

 

Useful Information:
Convento de Cristo
Igreja do Castelo Templário
2300-000 Tomar
website:http://www.conventocristo.pt
Video of Convent of Christ: http://www.conventocristo.pt/video

Visiting hours:

- October to May: From 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (last entry at 5 p.m.)
- June to September: From 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (last entry at 6 p.m.)
Recommended circuit: Henry the Navigator cloisters (Cemetery and Laundry), church, main cloister, Santa Bárbara cloister, Hostelry cloister and Micha cloister. Exit: 5:30 p.m.
It closes on 1 January, Easter Sunday, 1 May and 25 December.

How to get there:
A1 Lisboa/Porto Motorway – Torres Novas exit; A23 motorway – Tomar exit – IC3 or EN 110 (main road)
Main Road – EN13 from Leiria; EN 110 from Coimbra.
The Tomar Tourist Train includes the Convent of Christ in its route.