Arouca Monastery or Convent of Saint Mary or Convent of Saint Mafalda or Monastery of Saint Mary of Arouca and the tomb of Saint Mafalda

Category: Religious Architecture > Monastery

District: Aveiro > Arouca > Arouca > Arouca e Burgo

Location

The Monastery of Arouca is located in the parish and municipality of Arouca, in the district of Aveiro, in Portugal.

National Monument

The Monastery of Arouca has been classified as a National Monument since 1910, recognizing its historical and architectural importance.

History

Founded in the 10th century as a small monastery under the invocation of Saint Benedict of Nursia, the monastery received a charter in the 12th century, becoming a political and administrative center of the region. From 1154 onwards, it became inhabited only by nuns.

Tomb of Santa Mafalda

The monastery gained importance with the patronage of Santa Mafalda of Portugal, who lived there between 1220 and 1256. Santa Mafalda, daughter of King Sancho I of Portugal, was buried in the monastery after her death in 1256.

Cistercian Reform

In 1226, the monastery adopted the reform of the Cistercian Order at the will of Santa Mafalda. This reform brought significant changes to the monastic life of the monastery.

Reconstruction and Fire

The monastery underwent reconstructions and expansions from the 17th century onwards. However, a large fire in 1725 destroyed a large part of the structures, which were rebuilt until the end of the 18th century. Artists such as Diogo Teixeira, Carlos Gimac, and Miguel Francisco da Silva contributed to its splendor.

Museum of Sacred Art

After the extinction of religious orders in 1834, the monastery and its heritage were transferred to the Portuguese State. The artistic collection was gathered and is now housed in the Museum of Sacred Art, located in the monastery.

"Revive" Project

In 2016, the monastery was included in the "Revive" program, which aims to open heritage to private investment for tourism projects. The south wing of the monastery was designated for tourist use, and a concession contract was signed with the MS Hotels group.

Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosteiro_de_Arouca

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt