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The Monastery of São Vicente de Fora is one of the main tourist attractions in Lisbon, located 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 south of the church that are covered with tile panels; for its sacristy still in use today and considered the ex-libris of the monastery due to its decoration with inlaid colored marbles from the 18th century; and the cistern whose construction dates from the 12th century, being the main vestige of what remains of the medieval monastery founded by D. Afonso Henriques and whose main function was to store rainwater that would be used in the domestic tasks of the monastery.
The Monastery of São Vicente de Fora offers a varied cultural program in the field of architecture and visual arts.
Of particular note is the collection of magnificent tiles, 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 tilework, from the 17th century, with examples from the famous Royal Ceramic Factory, to the only collection of La Fontaine’s Fables in tile in Portugal.
The facade and cloisters, due to their grandeur, have served as a backdrop 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, illuminated 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 attraction in Lisbon and is open to the public for guided tours. It is the ideal place for those interested in architecture, art and history. In addition, the view from the monastery is also an attraction, allowing a unique panorama of the city of Lisbon and the Tagus River.
