Convento Vila Viçosa Pousada

It’s been a pantheon. A convent. A seminary. Over five centuries, the building that now houses the Convento Vila Viçosa Pousada has served many purposes. All of them have left their mark, creating a balance between new and old, like a history book made of wood and stone.

Built in 16th century, on the orders of Jaime, IV Duke of Bragança, to serve as a pantheon for the ladies of the House of Braganza, the place’s purpose soon changed. In 1535, it welcomed the Poor Clares of Beja, who remained for the next three centuries, during which time they lived cloistered. Vestiges of those times are visible everywhere, particularly in the convent’s old “entrance” – not an actual walkway, but rather an oratory that facilitated communication with the outside world. It included a wooden wheel that allowed food to pass, and supposedly abandoned babies that were left in the nuns’ care.

Although the ecclesiastical reforms of 1834 saw the dissolution of the monasteries, the then Chagas de Cristo convent was allowed to continue until the last nun died, which only occurred in 1905. In the 20th century, the place functioned as the archdiocese’s minor seminary, before eventually falling into decline. In the 1990s, the House of Braganza Foundation ceded the building to Enatur, which opened it as a historic pousada in 1997.

interior da pousada convento Vila Viçosa

corredor da pousada convento Vila Viçosa

Designed around a quadrangular cloister, the pousada possesses countless rooms, chapels and altars distributed over two floors. On the lower level, highlights include the Salão dos Duques (Dukes Hall) and Sala do Capítulo (chapter house), which are covered with tiles and fine frescoes. There is also the room occupied by the Dom Carlos restaurant, which enjoys two wonderful views: the cloister garden opposite, and the ceiling above, where a painting dating back to 1738 depicts the Last Supper. On the upper floors, which have 39 rooms between them, guests can also visit the Sala do Beija-Mão, a room covered with frescoes from 1820, which would give anyone a crick in the neck, given there’s so much to contemplate and admire.

The rooms created during the 1990s extension face the garden and pool. Similar to one another, they have balconies almost the big as the spacious rooms. The older rooms inside the main pousada building are adapted nuns’ quarters, which is why they differ in size and style. Each has a special detail as a reminder of the convent, from painting to tiles, including some more unusual features, such as a small cage. Who knows? Perhaps, sacrifices were made in the name of faith.

Essentials

mural pintado pousada convento Vila Viçosa

Murals

The old part of the pousada is home to various murals, many of which betray the wear and tear of time. Most of the work is attributed to Cecília do Espírito Santo, a nun from noble families who lived in the convent between 1652 and 1723.

Graves

The more observant visitors will see graves on the ground around the cloister. Among other nuns of the House of Braganza, there lies Joana de Mendonça, founder of the convent.

Holy water and Saint Barbara

On the first floor, before the corridors leading to the most recent rooms, there’s a heavenly combination. On one side, there’s a holy water font and an altar dedicated to Saint Barbara, while on the other, there are walls lined with different tile work. The ceiling is divided into two eras: one is made of brick and wooden beams, from the 16th century, and the other is made of hand-carved and painted stone.