BATALHA DE ALJUBARROTA II (Full Day)

In this trip we will go through the most important places that marked the previous days before the Battle of Aljubarrota or Batalha Real, which allowed the affirmation of Portugal as an Independent Kingdom.

We began our visit in Ourém with a visit to the ruins of the Chapel of São Sebastião and the Castle or Paço dos Condes de Ourém, considered one of the most beautiful Portuguese castles. It was from this place that D. Nuno Alvares Pereira left for the Battle of Aljubarrota.

We continue towards Porto de Mós with a brief stop during the trip, to appreciate the Roman road through which the troops from Ourém Castle moved towards the castle of Porto de Mós. We will then visit the Castle of Porto de Mós that hosted the troops on the nights before the battle.

Then we leave to the Monastery of Santa Maria da Vitoria or Monastery of Batalha, an important national monument that is part of the UNESCO World Heritage since 1983. It was built as a fulfilment of a promise made by King John I at the time of his victory at the Battle of Aljubarrota (Royal Battle), held on August 14, 1385, which guaranteed Portugal’s independence over the kingdom of Castile. Free time for lunch.

After lunch, we will visit the 1st position occupied by the Portuguese army in the Battle nevertheless, the Castelhanos did not want to fight in this place and they continued the march, again finding the Portuguese army,  3 hours later in the Military Field of Saint George, place where the battle happened and where we find now the Interpretation Center of the Battle were we will have the opportunity to cross the battlefield contacting the most important places that marked it.

After this closer experience with the Battle of Aljubarrota, we will know more deeply the place that gives it its name, the village of Aljubarrota, a place of important figures such as the Aljubarrota Baker and the Portuguese architect Eugénio dos Santos responsible for the reconstruction of Lisbon downtown after the earthquake of 1755. We will explore it through a pleasant walk through its historic streets where the buildings retain the old traces of medieval characteristics.

We leave the village of Aljubarrota and leave towards Alcobaça where we will find the Monastery of Santa Maria de Alcobaça or Royal Abbey of Santa Maria one of the first Cistercian monastic foundations in Portuguese territory. It is currently classified as a World Heritage by UNESCO and as one of the seven wonders of Portugal. Return.