Monastery of São Vicente de Fora

Monastery of São Vicente de Fora tickets: which one to buy

The Monastery of Sao Vicente de Fora stands on a hill in the Alfama district of Lisbon, near the Campo de Santa Clara, and it is ticketed; the ticket covers the cloisters, the tile galleries, the royal pantheon and the rooftop terraces, which have one of the best views in Lisbon over the river Tagus and the old town. The church can be visited separately for free.

The famous tram 28 stops nearby, and walking tours of Alfama combine the monastery with the National Pantheon, the cathedral, the viewpoints and the Feira da Ladra flea market, which takes place on Tuesdays and Saturdays in the square beside the monastery. The monastery is less crowded than many sights in Lisbon, and the terraces are quiet. The streets around are steep and cobbled, so comfortable shoes are important. The terrace level is reached by stairs and is not accessible for wheelchairs.

Visiting Monastery of São Vicente de Fora: what to see

The first monastery was founded in 1147 by King Afonso Henriques after the conquest of Lisbon, outside the city walls, which gives it the name de Fora, outside. The present building was begun in 1582 under Philip II of Spain, then also king of Portugal, to designs attributed to Filippo Terzi and Juan de Herrera, in a mannerist style with a severe white facade. The cloisters are lined with blue and white azulejo tiles, and the monastery holds one of the largest collections of eighteenth-century tiles in the world, including a series illustrating the fables of La Fontaine.

The former refectory was turned into the pantheon of the Braganza dynasty, where most Portuguese kings and queens from the seventeenth to the twentieth century are buried. The church has a gilded baroque baldachin over the altar, and the cistern and the rooftop terraces complete the visit. The tile panels in the entrance hall show scenes from the history of Lisbon, including the conquest of the city from the Moors in 1147. Among the tombs in the royal pantheon is that of Catherine of Braganza, queen of England as wife of Charles II. The church interior, with its coffered ceiling and marble floor, is large and luminous.

Monastery of São Vicente de Fora opening hours and the best time to go

The monastery is open from Tuesday to Sunday and closed on Mondays. Mornings are quiet, and the light over the river from the terraces is beautiful in the late afternoon. The flea market on Tuesdays and Saturdays fills the square and nearby streets. Lisbon is pleasant for much of the year, with hot summers and mild, rainy winters. The festival of Saint Anthony in June fills Alfama with street parties, grilled sardines and music, especially on the night of 12 June. Allow about an hour for the monastery and terraces, and walk down through Alfama to the Miradouro de Santa Luzia afterwards. The Miradouro da Graca, a short walk uphill, has a kiosk cafe with views over the castle and the city.