We enjoyed wonderful walks in the Alentejo with the help of our new book from the Tourist Office – Chão da Velha, Carreiras, Montalvão, and Galegos – and our base during these days was the Pousada Flor da Rosa.
In 1232 King Sancho gave the village of Crato to the Order of Hospitallers (The Knights of St John of Jerusalem) and in 1240 it became the headquarters of the order. The head of the Order was known as the Prior of Crato and it was Prior Dom Álvaro Pereira who built the Monastery of Flor da Rosa in 1356, the ‘mother church’ of the Order. In the 15C the Order was renamed the Order of Malta. Today the site consists of the fortified Chapel, the Castle (with cistern under the lawn), the Renaissance buildings, and the new Hotel. This is one of the most important monuments in Portugal.
The Chapel houses the tomb of the founder, Dom Álvaro Pereira, and is the most important fortified church in Portugal. It is a soaring, dark, cruciform space with no decoration, and it feels peaceful. Stairs lead to an upper floor and views over the countryside and the Cloister.
The Cloister is silent, with a strong reminder that this was the home of the Order of Malta.
There are 15C and 16C statues of the Virgin and Child are on permanent display from the National Museum in a room off the Cloister and while my first reaction was that these were very stiff and wooden presentations I wondered if, with my camera, I could find a more human portrayal. I had no additional light sources or tripod.
This is the most magical of places – if you visit the Alentejo do linger here.
Further information
The Monastery of Flor da Rosa
Nuno Alvares Pereira
A visit to the Pousada Flor da Rosa
The Pousada of Flor de Rosa – London Traveller
[…] site in a tiny village in the Alentejo. I have stayed here before and written about the Monastery which was built by Prior Dom Álvaro Pereira in […]
saltofportugal
Great photos! We love Flor de Rosa! Did you try the wondrous Tecolameco? (we write about it here http://buff.ly/25FACUy)
Candy Blackham
NO, I did not – and I don’t remember seeing it on the menu nor on display – I should have asked. The food was superb!
lizannelloyd
This is fascinating. I have just booked 3 nights in Evora at the end of August on our way down to the Algarve, but this sounds like the place to visit next time.
Candy Blackham
Evora is interesting and you will have a good time there. But Flor da Rosa is magical, and you might also look at the Pousada in Vila Vicosa, another extraordinary hotel in an interesting town. I posted earlier on our stay in the Pousada.
Candy Blackham
And do look at Salt of Portugal’s blogsite – lots of information and beautiful photographs, https://saltofportugal.com/
lizannelloyd
Thanks for the information.