moderate
10 hours
Participants should be capable of sustaining light to moderate walking over several hours, including some stair climbing within the sites.
Step beyond Lisbon’s urban buzz with Magnificat Tours’ full-day journey through Portugal’s medieval monasteries. Discover UNESCO sites and the legacy of the Knights Templar in a historic landscape rich with architectural marvels and quiet outdoor spaces.
From €45 per person | Visit 3 impressive monasteries ! | 10h
Escape the hustle of Lisbon for a captivating 10-hour journey through central Portugal's ecclesiastical heritage. Explore three UNESCO-listed monasteries, including the austere Alcobaça Abbey and the grand Batalha Monastery, before discovering the Knights Templar's legacy in Tomar. This unique experience promises stunning architecture and unforgettable memories.
From €45 per person (All Ages) Tour can take up to 15 people. Prices change according to the number of people in the group.
10 hours
Easy
Being picked up your accommodation in Lisbon, an early start for the 2-hour drive you’ll have ahead to reach our first stop - The Alcobaça Abbey marks the early years of the Cistercian Order. Built according to the poverty vows taken and the simplicity preached in the early years of Saint Bernardine Rule, the monks derived from the Cluny Order and were granted the protection of this area in the reconquering of land from the Moors. The austere and plain early gothic architecture would come to produce a deep visual impact in the unornate open aisles of the Church.
After an early start, a great lunch is in order. You'll stop for lunch already in Batalha! Monastery of Batalha was ordered construction after the Portuguesa won the Spanish in battle and maintained independence, this precious piece of architecture mostly Gothic and Manuelino, took over 150 years to be concluded and is part of the network of Royal Pantheons.
Finally, our third piece of ascetic architecture is situated in Tomar. This city famous for the Castle and Convent that homed the Order of the Knights Templar even after it was officially extinct in Europe- it survived in Portugal and was even an important part of the Age of Discoveries. You’ll tour inside the Castle and Convent to appreciate the beautiful architecture of Medieval, Gothic, Manueline and Renaissance aesthetics.
This has been quite a long day certainly filled with amazing photos and memories. We will return to Lisbon after this last stop for some very deserved rest!
This tour involves extensive walking on uneven stone floors and outdoor paths within monastery grounds.
While much of the tour includes indoor sites, outdoor courtyards and travel between locations expose you to sun and variable temperatures.
Some interiors have limited photography or require quiet observation to preserve the sacred atmosphere.
The tour lasts about 10 hours, so plan your energy accordingly and bring light snacks if needed.
The Convent of Christ in Tomar was a central stronghold for the Knights Templar, influencing Portuguese history and architecture from the 12th century onward.
These UNESCO sites maintain strict preservation standards to protect the centuries-old stonework and surrounding landscapes from over-tourism impacts.
To comfortably navigate uneven stone flooring and outdoor paths.
Protection from sun exposure during outdoor segments and transit between sites.
spring|summer|fall specific
For unexpected showers and wind protection in cooler months.
spring|fall|winter specific
Stay hydrated throughout the long touring day.