Batalha Monastery and Nazaré; the union of Man and Nature

Batalha Monastery was ordered to be built by King João I, after winning the Batalha de Aljubarrota (1385), which guaranteed Portuguese independence from Castile. Today it is one of the finest monasteries and one of the best examples of Gothic architecture in Portugal.

Nazaré is a charming fishermen town and a colourful seaside resort, with a great connection to its traditions. This village has developed in a very sustainable way, paying homage to its common heritage and historical memory.

Start your Adventure

You will start this scenic day with a visit to the grand monastery of Batalha: the most iconic symbol of this small town. It represents the transition from Gothic to Manueline architectural styles, and, though it has never been finished, even after 100 years of works, it has heavily influenced Portuguese architecture for future generations.

After a lunch where you can taste the freshest fish or seafood of the region, you will visit Nazaré, one of the most famous fishing towns in Portugal: cobbled streets lead from the beachfront, fishermen’s houses have been converted into stylish hotels and old women still wear proudly their traditional dresses.

By the beach, you will see the wooden fishing boats still proudly used today: colorful and narrow with curved prows and decoration evocative of the first fishermen of the area: the Phoenicians that settled here in the pre- Christian times.

After driving up the cliff that overlooks the town, you will visit a commemoration chapel that was built to honor a miraculous intervention in 1182 by the Virgin Mary in saving the life of a 12th-century Portuguese knight.

Enjoy the views from this viewpoint, which are absolutely fabulous!