Santa Clara Monastery, Vila do Conde

Discover the Santa Clara Monastery in Vila do Conde, Porto.

Santa Clara Monastery
© Celestino Manuel

The Mosteiro de Santa Clara (Monastério de Santa Clara) sits on the top of a small mountain, next to the town of Vila do Conde, from which you get excellent views over the city.

This impressing monastery was built in 1319 and is associated with the birth of the city. Currently, the church and cloister are still preserved, both in a Gothic style excellently curated thanks to some restoration works.

Mosteiro de Santa Clara
© Celestino Manuel

The church has a latin cross-shaped floor with a single nave and a great transept.

It’s worth noting the Capela dos Fundadores shrine, where the founders of the monastery and town are buried. They were Prince Alfonso Sanches and his wife Doña Teresa, who founded the monastery during their returning from Santiago de Compostela.

Pay attention to the rosette window, the XVII century Rococo organ, and the high and low choirs, lavishly sculpted.

Not far from the monastery, you will find the remains of an aqueduct that used to provide water for the more than 100 nuns living in the monastery.

More information:

Location:

Largo Afonso Sanches, Vila do Conde, Portugal.

Opening hours:

Sunday mass and Eucharistic are available (17:00) and can be visited in the following opening times:
Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 to 12:0 and from 14:30 to 17:00.
Sunday from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 15:30 to 18:30.
Closed on Mondays.

Telephone:

(+351) 252681348.

Email:

museuparoquialvcd@sapo.pt

Mapa Interactivo:

Other worth-visiting nearby towns and cities:

Why "Portugal Travel"?

Portugal Travel is an organization of Portuguese agencies whose objectives are:

✓ To make Portugal, its culture and its heritage known.
✓ To promote sustainable tourism.

In collaboration with:

Escola Superior de Hotelaria e Turismo do Estoril

Turismo de Portugal