The Monastery of São Vicente de Fora is one of Lisbon’s main tourist attractions, situated on the hill of São Vicente in the Alfama district, very close to the National Pantheon and the Feira da Ladra flea market.
During the siege of Lisbon, in 1147, D. Afonso Henriques – the first king of Portugal – made a promise: if he managed to conquer the city, he would order the construction of a monastery dedicated to São Vicente, a highly venerated saint who later became patron saint of Lisbon. This medieval monastery was founded in the same year, on the “outside” side of the city walls, thus justifying the toponymy of the building.
During the 13th century, Saint António passed through the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora, where he spent his early days as a monk.
Since its founding, in the 12th century, until today, much has changed in the architecture of the church and Monastery of São Vicente de Fora. From the primitive monastery to the megalomaniac project of King Filipe I of Portugal, passing through the decorative arts of the Bragança dynasty and even the readaptation of the monastery as a museum space in the 20th century. The medieval cistern, dating from the 12th century, remains a remarkable example of hydraulic engineering still in operation.
Features
The monastery is known for its facade adorned with decorative elements, including columns, arches, and sculptures; for the two cloisters to the south of the church which are lined with tile panels; for its sacristy, still used today and considered the monastery’s ex-libris due to its 18th-century decoration with inlaid colored marbles; and the cistern, whose construction dates back to the 12th century, being the main vestige of what remains of the medieval monastery founded by D. Afonso Henriques, which had the primary function of storing rainwater to be used for the monastery’s domestic chores.
The Monastery of São Vicente de Fora offers a varied cultural range in the fields of architecture and fine arts.
The collection of magnificent tiles stands out above all, being one of the largest in the world. There are around 100,000 tiles and they are found in situ, covering the walls and staircases of the monastery. Here you can find all periods of Baroque tiling, from the 17th century, with examples from the famous Royal Ceramics Factory, to the only collection of La Fontaine’s Fables in tile in Portugal.
The facade and cloisters, due to their grandeur, have already served as settings for historical films, documentaries, and photo shoots.
Candlelight Open Air
Candlelight concerts are an original series created by Fever with the aim of democratizing access to classical music, allowing people from all over the world to enjoy performances played by local musicians in stunning venues, lit by thousands of candles.
On June 29, July 13, and August 17, 2024, the Candlelight concert series took place at the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora, dedicated to Abba.
Today, the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora is an important tourist spot in Lisbon and is open to the public for guided tours. It is the ideal place for those interested in architecture, art, and history. Furthermore, the view from the monastery is also an attraction, allowing a unique panorama of the city of Lisbon and the Tagus River.
