Mosteiro de Santa Maria de Arouca, Arouca

This monastery can be accessed very easily, since it is centrally located on the main avenue of Arouca. It is not possible to leave the car at the door, but the village has many available parking spaces with parking meters, which charge symbolic prices (except error, Eur 0.30 per hour), whose recipe does not revert to the Town Hall, but for the institutions of Social solidarity. The ticket is free, entering through the Church. In historical terms, based on documents, the convent's history begins in the 10th century, but is in the 13th century that the Santa Mafalda (canonized) who used the convent for decades, gives him more relevance. This lady was the daughter of Sancho I, who had "hired" your marriage with Henry of Castile. As he died, without which the marriage happen, the lady came back to Portugal and your dad, d. Sancho I, gave him the monastery of Arouca. Second I've read, that "Santa" Mafalda was considered Queen of Castile by a very, very short period. But don't think the lady lived in absolute solitude, stripped of rights and values. No Sir. The Lady moved to the monastery to lead a life devoted to religion, but Sancho I provided him an Entourage of maids to that nothing was missing. The arouquenses have a particular devotion to the Santa Mafalda. It is no coincidence that about one-fifth of the arouquenses is called Mafalda. The monastery, in terms of building is far from what it was in the past, once in 1725 was reduced to ashes in a fire. It is already at the end of the 18th century that Mafalda is beatified. However, the arouquenses consider it holy, and it is usual to speak of Santa Mafalda and not of Mafalda. As we all know, in the time of d. José I, Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, Minister of that King, decided to extinguish religious institutions, at the monastery of Arouca was no exception. Concerned, however, that all the nuns who lived in the convent at the date of the Decree of extinction might inhabit it until your death. Centuries passed and the power and wisdom of man made predominasse history in time and today, in addition to functioning as a church of remarkable beauty, has a booty organized at the Museum of sacred art. It is said that there is the possibility of partial use of the convent (not the Church or the Museum) to tourism, for example, a hostel or a hotel de charme. Conclusion: is it worth to go to Arouca, visit the convent and Museum, enrich the culture and win appetite for veal roast or steak such as arouquesa Alvarenga, who are the exponents of maximum gastronomic region. Good visit.

In the city centre of Arouca this beautiful Convent is superb for your size and splendor. Beautiful organ and has tumula of Queen Mafalda.

Free entry, in this monastery/convent. Polychrome carvings of great relief. The pipe organ and the tomb of Queen Santa Mafalda. Other Saints, with interest. Worth