Alcobaca

About

Alcobaça was a tiny village until the 12th century when Dom Afonso Henriques, the first King of Portugal, donated land to build the famed Royal Abbey of Santa Maria. The Monastery owned a vast area of land, which they organized into villages and estates. They also boosted the local agriculture by introducing new techniques and products became staples in the region. Modeled on the Abbey of Claraval, the headquarters of the Cistercian Order in France, Alcobaça’s massive Monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Aside from the stunning architecture, the monastery offers guests to explore the interior, including the kitchen and tombs of the ill-fated Pedro and Ines.