Gallery of the Monastery of Alcobaça. Click on a picture to enlarge it.
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Wonderful entrance to this 12th century
monastery. Built where the rivers Alcoa and Baca meet.
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- and its huge. This is the frontage, the side are 50% longer.
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Central nave of the church. Built during 12th and completed in the 13th
century.
Its as new looking and pristine as it must have been 700 years ago.
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Dizzying heights of the central nave. Probably over 30m tall.
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The ornate tomb of King Pedro I, a masterpiece of 14th
century tomb sculpting.
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As with King Pedro's, Dona Ines de Castro, the King's lover, also has a richly decorated
tomb. Scenes tell stories of their life together.
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Inside of the Cloisters of King Dinis. Here the monks could walk around the 4 sides
of the quadrangle shielded from both sun and rain. They took a vow of silence so
this would still be a quiet place.
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Looking into the inner courtyard of the Cloisters of King Dinis. Also called The
Cloisters of Silence.
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One of the oldest parts of the monastery, this was originally the monks
dormitory
though later, when the monastery was expanded, it became the guests quarters..
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Not open to the public, this is the Cardinals' cloisters. Quite splendid to look
out upon but very noisy due to the resident frogs, who clearly
haven't taken a vow
of silence.
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A confusing picture! It's the chimney above the kitchens (picture below) and I'd estimate
it to be over 15m tall.
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Looking across the cloisters to the twin towers over the church entrance..
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Here is the bottom of the chimney directly above the fires. Racks above the fires
enable pans or meats to be hung, so boiled or roasted. The hearth is 3m x 5m.
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Monks refectory. On the left are steps up to a pulpit from which the scriptures were read at meal times.
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The beaufully ornate Lavatorium, just outside of the refectory. Hand washing?
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