Mosteiro de São Vicente de Fora

A sixteenth-century monastery in Lisbon, with tiled cloisters and the pantheon of the Braganza kings.

The monastery of São Vicente de Fora seen from the castle

Above the rooftops of Alfama, the Mosteiro de São Vicente de Fora dominates the old city with its great white facade. Built at the end of the sixteenth century, it holds serene cloisters lined with tiles, a rich church and the pantheon where the kings of the House of Braganza lie.

History and character

The monastery was founded in 1582, in the years of the union of the crowns with Spain, and belongs to the great monastic ensembles of Lisbon. Its church and cloisters were rebuilt after the earthquake of 1755, and in the twentieth century it became the royal pantheon, when the remains of the Braganza monarchs were brought to its chapter house.

What to see

The church, with its monumental facade and baroque interior.
The cloisters, with their azulejo panels and garden courtyards.
The pantheon of the Braganzas, with the tombs of the kings and queens.
The old refectory and the monastery’s historic rooms.

Visiting

The monastery is in São Vicente, between Graça and Alfama, reached on foot or by tram. It is open to visitors outside the hours of worship, with circuits through the church, cloisters and pantheon; access may be limited during ceremonies.