The Monastery of Santa Maria da Vitoria, or the Monastery of the Battle, is a majestic and amazingly beautiful Dominican monastery of the 14th century, which is a symbol of Portuguese independence and a recognized masterpiece of late Gothic. It was founded by King Juan I in gratitude to the Virgin Mary for a major military victory over the Spaniards in the battle of Aljubarrota, as a result of which the Portuguese kingdom gained independence from Spain for quite a long time. The construction of the monastery continued for 150 years and during the reign of six Portuguese kings. It hastily ended in 1517, when the main forces were transferred to the construction of the
Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon.
The monastic complex of Batalha includes a late Gothic church, the Chapel of the Founder, the Chapter Hall, the unfinished pantheon rotunda and the wonderful Royal Cloister. The monastery amazes visitors with its numerous towers, openwork balustrades, stunning carvings and a very complex main portal. The monastery is also famous for the fact that stained glass windows and elements of the Manueline style first appeared here. The unfinished chapels of the monastery and the royal tomb with marble sarcophagi of King Juan I, his wife and sons deserve special attention, among which it is worth noting the tomb of the famous Henry the Navigator.
Since 1980, after large-scale restoration work, a national museum has been opened in Batalha Monastery, a visit to which is a must for every self-respecting traveler.
