The 12th-century Monastery of Santa Maria, a UNESCO site, dominates this small Portuguese town where monks once produced sweets using egg yolks and sugar.
Alcobaça, a small town in central Portugal, grew around its 12th-century Cistercian monastery. You can explore the monastery's 20-meter-high Gothic church, watch local bakers make traditional convent sweets, taste cherry liqueur made from medieval recipes, and swim in the curved bay of [São Martinho do Porto](/pt/sao-martinho-do-porto).
Visiting the Monastery of Alcobaça
The monastery takes up the town center with its 18th-century facade stretching 220 meters. Inside, you'll walk through Portugal's first Gothic church, where stone columns reach 20 meters high. The monastery's kitchen includes an 18-meter chimney and a water channel that connects directly to the river. Open daily 9 AM to 5 PM in winter and until 7 PM in summer. Entry costs 6 euros.
Local Food and Drinks
Many local bakeries continue making recipes that originated in the monastery's kitchens. Try the "Cornucópias" pastries or the "Pão de Ló" sponge cake from Alfeizerão. Several shops around the main square sell ginja, a dark cherry liqueur made according to old monastery recipes.
Exploring the Coast
Nine beaches sit within the Alcobaça municipality. São Martinho do Porto's shell-shaped bay creates naturally calm waters for swimming. At Paredes da Vitória beach, cliffs frame the sand and surf schools operate during summer. Both beaches include restaurants and parking areas.
Getting Around Alcobaça
Located 120 kilometers north of Lisbon, you can reach Alcobaça by bus from Lisbon (2 hours) or Porto (3 hours). The town center is compact - you can walk between the monastery, main square, and most restaurants within 10 minutes.
Museums and Cultural Sites
Visit the Wine Museum in an old winery to see original equipment and photographs explaining local wine-making methods. Walk up to the castle ruins for views of the monastery and valleys. Along the Alcoa River, ceramic installations tell stories from the town's past.
The Royal Tombs
Inside the monastery church, you'll find the 14th-century tombs of King Pedro I and Inês de Castro. The detailed Gothic stone carvings show scenes from their lives. Pedro ordered Inês's tomb to be larger than his own and placed it at the foot of his, positioning it so that anyone entering the church would need to bow toward her tomb.
