Category: Nature > Park
District: Lisboa > Sintra > Colares
The Convent of the Capuchos Park is nestled in the heart of the Sintra Mountains, in the locality of Colares. This unique space stands out for its secluded position, completely immersed in a natural environment where dense vegetation and imposing granite blocks are dominant elements. Far from the grandeur of other buildings in the region, the Convent and its park offer an experience of isolation and introspection, inviting a deep connection with the surrounding nature.
Dating back to the 16th century, the Convent of the Capuchos was erected under the ideals of the Order of Saint Francis, which valued poverty and renunciation of earthly pleasures as a path to spiritual perfection. Its architecture remarkably reflects this philosophy, featuring reduced dimensions and a construction devoid of any luxury or ornamentation. Materials such as cork, used to line cells and doors, and stone itself, incorporated into the building's structures, are testaments to an austere life in complete harmony with the natural environment.
This singular character led King Philip I of Portugal to utter a famous phrase in 1581, stating that in his kingdom he possessed two things that greatly pleased him: "the Escorial, for being so rich, and the Convent of Santa Cruz, for being so poor." The small cells and narrow corridors, sometimes carved into the rock, mirror the humility and penance that guided the daily lives of the friars who lived there.
The founding of the Convent of Santa Cruz da Serra de Sintra, as it was originally known, is due to a vow by D. João de Castro, fulfilled by his son, D. Álvaro de Castro. For approximately 250 years, this site was a place of worship and pilgrimage, inhabited by a community of Franciscan friars. Among them, the legendary figure of Frei Honório stands out, who, according to legend, lived in isolation in a small cave in the surrounding woods, dedicating the last decades of his life to penance and contemplation.
The Convent of the Capuchos Park is also a remarkable example of the primitive forest of the Sintra Mountains. The woods surrounding the convent, with their ancient oaks and profusion of ferns and mosses, were kept intact by the religious, constituting today a valuable natural heritage. The cultural landscape of Sintra, of which this Convent is a part, is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, underscoring the importance of this place that bears witness to a way of life in deep connection with nature and spirit.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 38.783741928, -9.437214828
Coordinates DMS: 38°47'1.5"N 09°26'14.0"W
On-duty Pharmacy Colares
