Monastery of Saint Mary of Vila Boa do Bispo - Rota do Românico
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Located on a hillside on the left bank of the river Tâmega, Vila Boa do Bispo impresses by its monumentality. These dimensions can be explained by the importance that it held throughout the Medieval and Modern periods, emphasizing the attention given by the feudal power, including the lineage of the Gascos (or of the Ribadouros).

Although profoundly changed in the Modern Era, the Romanesque traces help to understand the historical richness of this Monastery.

In the main façade, the two blind arcades that flank the portal stand out as being very original and bearing a composition typical of the Romanesque found on the Braga-Rates axis.

These and other elements scattered across the structure put this Romanesque building of Vila Boa do Bispo between the 12th and 13th centuries.

It is likely that, given the existence of buttresses, the primitive chancel was both quadrangular and vaulted.

Another element that recalls the medieval building and its link to the nobility of the region are the remaining tombs which indicate burials in the 13th and 14th centuries.

The interior is marked by the Baroque spirit, which, through several techniques and materials, has created a particularly luminous and monumental space.

Under the coffered ceiling of the chancel, a set of mural paintings was identified as being from the 16th century, thus emphasizing the culture of the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine.


Type: Monastery

Classification: National Monument - 1977

Route: Tâmega Valley

990-1022 - According to tradition, the Monastery of Vila Boa do Bispo was founded by D. Sisnando, the brother of Monio Viegas;

1012 - First reference to the Monasterio S. Mariae Villaebonae;

1022 - Date included in the funerary inscription of D. Monio Viegas and of two of his sons, D. Egas Moniz and D. Gomes Moniz, engraved in a sarcophagus lid found in the cloister of the Monastery of Vila Boa do Bispo;

1120 - Reference to the Monasterium... Villa Noua [sic] episcopi;

1141, February 12th - The Monastery of Vila Boa do Bispo - or, more specifically, the prior D. Egas, his brother D. Monio and his monks -, received the charter of "couto" [place with privileges] granted by King D. Afonso Henriques;

1142 - The bishop of Porto, D. Pedro Rabaldis (1138-1145) visits the chapel where D. Sisnando was buried; later, he would have his tomb transferred to the Monastery of Vila Boa [do Bispo];

1143 - There are already reports of the presence of the Canons Regular of St. Augustine in Vila Boa do Bispo;

1144 - In the Papal Brief of Pope Lucius II (1144-1145), the priors of the Monastery were allowed to use a mitre;

1153 - In the Bull of Pope Anastasius IV (1153-1154), the priors were also distinguished with the permit to use a crosier;

12th-13th centuries - Chronology of the remaining Romanesque elements of Vila Boa do Bispo;

1297 - Pope Boniface VIII (1294-1303) made an explicit confirmation of the Rule of Saint Augustine in the Monastery of Vila Boa do Bispo;

13th Century - The Monastery of Vila Boa do Bispo held many farmhouses and patronages in several parishes of the region;

14th century - Design of the tomb of D. Salvado Pires;

1320 - The Monastery of Vila Boa do Bispo pays a tax of 1500 Portuguese libras;

1348, November 25th - Inscription engraved on the tomb of D. Nicolau Martins, the Monastery's prior;

1362 - After this date, the tombs of D. Júrio Geraldes and D. Nicolau Martins were commissioned by the former to the same workshop;

1381, January 30th - Funeral inscription engraved in the lateral section of the lid of the tomb of D. Júrio Geraldes, Chief Magistrate of King D. Fernando (1387-1383) for the region of Entre-Douro-e-Minho;

1475 - The presentation of commendatory abbots in Vila Boa do Bispo begins;

16th century (mid) - The presentation of commendatory abbot ends, with D. Miguel de Almeida;

1593 - The Monastery of Vila Boa do Bispo is integrated in the Congregation of the Holy Cross in Coimbra;

1599-1686 - Earliest and latest dates of the various cartouches placed inside the building, which offer evidence of the great transformation it underwent during the Modern Period;

1605 - Renovation of the Monastery of Vila Boa do Bispo;

17th century (2nd half) - Transformation of the Romanesque building of Vila Boa do Bispo;

1650-60 - Tiling of the baptistery;

1686 - Possible construction of the sacristy, purposely opening an access door to the chancel, duly identified over the jamb;

18th century (1st half) - Chronology of the Baroque intervention in the Church's interior, based on existing stylistic elements;

1727 - Date engraved in the sacristy washbasin;

1740 - Tiling of the chancel;

1758 - According to the information provided by the "Memórias Paroquiais" [Parish Memorandum], the building of Vila Boa do Bispo would have already had an identical look to the one we currently see;

1882-1888 - Disassembling and reconstruction of the tower;

1886 November 16th - Project for an interior staircase surrounding the walls of the tower;

1977 - Classification of the Church (and tombs) as National Monument; classification of the area of the former Monastery as Public Interest Building;

1997 (onwards) - Restoration of plaster coatings on the Church's internal and external walls;

2010 - The Monastery of Vila Boa do Bispo becomes part of the Route of the Romanesque's complex of monuments;

2012 - Conservation intervention on the chancel's vault, revealing a 17th-century mural painting, after the removal of the existing coffered ceiling.

Saint Mary - 15th August

By appointment

Sunday - 11 am

Monument not accessible to visitors with reduced mobility.

+351 255 810 706

+351 918 116 488

visitasrr@valsousa.pt

How to get here:

41.130387, -8.220496

Av. Padre António da Cunha Machado, Vila Boa do Bispo, Marco de Canaveses, Porto

Northern Portugal: A28/A3/A7/A24/A11 » A4 (Vila Real) » Penafiel/Lousada » Penafiel » Rota do Românico/Igreja de Abragão/Mosteiro de Vila Boa do Bispo.

Porto: A4 (Vila Real) » Penafiel/Lousada » Penafiel » Rota do Românico/Igreja de Abragão/Mosteiro de Vila Boa do Bispo.

Central/Soutnhern Portugal: A1 (Porto)/ A29 (V.N. Gaia) » A41 CREP » A4 (Vila Real) » Penafiel/Lousada » Penafiel » Rota do Românico/Igreja de Abragão/Mosteiro de Vila Boa do Bispo.

Marco de Canaveses: N210 Alpendorada » Rota do Românico/Mosteiro de Vila Boa do Bispo.

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