This day we spent in Alcobaça. First, we soaked up the atmosphere of the city, accompanied by the operatic sounds of a street musician. Afterward, we explored the Alcobaça Monastery, a truly monumental building.
The monastery was founded in 1153 by Portugal’s first king, Afonso Henriques. It is conventionally divided into three parts: the Northern and Southern wings, which are designed in the Baroque style, and a Gothic temple built in the shape of a Latin cross. To this day, the monastery church remains the largest in Portugal.
The next day we walked around the old Alfama area of Lisbon. It is a very colorful place with many churches, lookout points, ceramic tiles, and old trams.
We visited the Lisbon Cathedral. Recent digging in the cathedral’s courtyard showed that there was once a Roman temple and later a mosque on that site.
By the waterfront, we watched sand sculptors make their art. In the evening, we went to the beach by the Atlantic Ocean. Covered 274 km this day.