Page "Alcobaça, Portugal" Paragraph 6

A town that only became notable in the 12th century when it became the site for the construction of Portugal's largest church.

In the month of March in 1147 the fledgling King, Dom Afonso Henriques, defeated the Moors by capturing the city of Santarém.

As a suitable memory to this splendid victory he vowed to build a magnificent home for the Order of Cistercians.

It took another 76 years before this task was completed.

The monarchy continued to endow the Monastery of Alcobaça with further construction and 60 years later King Dinis built the main cloister but it was only in 1252 that the Monastery was inaugurated within the church.