Mosteiro de Tibães

The Monastery was founded in the 6th century, but nothing remains of the earlier buildings. At the end of the 11th century, the space was once again occupied by monks. During the Low Middle Ages, the Monastery came into possession of riches and vast properties. In 1567 it became the Main house of the Order of Saint Benedict for Portugal and Brazil. In the first half of the 17th century, in view of the ruined condition of the former building and the vast resources at their disposal, the monks started the great works which originated the ensemble that exists today. They began with the church, built between 1628 and 1661, reorganised the Refectory Cloister and built the Cemetery Cloister. Up to 1704, they built the Monastery's new wings housing the Gate House, the "Recibo", the Dormitory, the Guest House, the Chapter House and the Library. The church is one of the most magnificent temples in Portugal and one of the greatest landmarks of Baroque art. Architects as Manuel Álvares and André Soares worked in it. Sold at an auction sale in 1864, the Tibães Monastery and all its surrounding areas fell in decay and ruin. Only in 1986 started a recovery project, when it became a State property.

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The Monastery dates back to the 17th and 18th century and is the largest Baroque work in Portugal. It was the mother house of the Benedictines. It was designed by André Soares and Friar José de Vilaça and is an extraordinary work of wood carving in a mixture of styles.
There is a majestic Christ and a well preserved pipe organ in the choir. There are impressive sculptures by Friar Cipriano da Cruz in the sacristy. In the Chapter Room the ceiling has lovely blue and yellow paintings.
It is surrounded by a huge area of woods, orchards, kitchen gardens, gardens, walks and fountains. It is a pity that only in the 1980s did this monastery come to the attention of the authorities; after it had been ruined by lack of care and restoration.

In: http://www.solaresdeportugal.pt/EN/entevt.php?eventoid=142