To Do in Batalha
From the Founder's Chapel, to the Royal Cloisters, and the Unfinished Chapels, The Mosteiro de Santa Maria da Vitoria (or The Monastery of Batalha) is a must. The construction began 1388, commissioned by King João after he made a vow to the Virgin that he would build a magnificent monastery if she granted him a victory over the Castillians, in the Battle of Aljubarrota. It took 200 years to build, ringing in the reign of 7 kings and 15 architects. It feels a bit like time travel moving from one period to the next and watching the architecture shift as styles and technologies changed over the course of the project.
If you have energy to spare after walking the grounds of the
monastery, the Interpretive Center of the Battle of Aljubarrota is
a fascinating way to learn about one of the most important battles
in Portuguese history. It is highly interactive and engaging for
all ages (beware for very young children, there is a large
collection of bones belonging to those who died in the historic
battle). For 250 million years of geological and paleontological
history, visit the new cultural center, O Museu De Todos, or The
Museum for All. It is right next to the monastery and well worth a
visit.