Get to know the famous Pantheons of Portugal, places where important names of Portuguese royalty and great celebrities from the rich history of the country rest.
WHAT IS A PANTHEON
Of Greek origin, the word pantheon referred to the set of gods and temples specific to each of them. Nowadays, the word is used to define a place that houses the remains of notable people, royalty, statesmen, artists or citizens who have excelled in their activities. In this context, currently, pantheon is a synonym of mausoleum, in the sense of being a structure with crypts and tombs of several important individuals. In 1836, by means of a decree, the National Pantheon of Portugal was created, which originally occupied a space within the Jerónimos Monastery in the Belém district of Lisbon. In 1966, it was installed in the Church of Santa Engrácia, also in the Portuguese capital, in a beautiful baroque building decorated with colored marble. The objective of the National Pantheon is to honor several Portuguese citizens of great relevance in several areas, including individuals with important public positions, who provided military services, who were relevant to the culture, science and art of the country, defenders of freedom, among others.
THE PANTHEONS OF PORTUGAL
In addition to the previously mentioned National Pantheon, Portugal concentrates some other important pantheons that are listed below. Then, see details about each one of them and how to visit them.
- NATIONAL: Santa Engrácia Church – National Pantheon (Lisbon), Jerónimos Monastery (Lisbon), Batalha Monastery (Batalha) and Santa Cruz Monastery (Coimbra)
- REAL: Santa Cruz Monastery (Coimbra), Alcobaça Monastery (Alcobaça), Batalha Monastery (Batalha), Jerónimos Monastery (Lisbon) and Royal Pantheon of the Bragança Dynasty (Lisbon)
- OTHERS: Pantheon of the Dukes of Bragança (Vila Viçosa), Pantheon of the Dukes of Bragança (Vila Viçosa) and Pantheon of the Patriarchs of Lisbon (Lisbon)
ECONOMY TIP: LISBON CARD
For those who want to visit several places in Lisbon, our tip is to purchase the Lisbon Card. The Lisboa Card gives you free entry to several attractions in the city, as well as unlimited public transport. It is possible to buy the card in 3 versions: 24h, 48h or 72h. The train ticket between Lisbon and Sintra is also included in the Lisboa Card, in addition to discounts at various stores, tours and attractions. We test and approve! Check out: Lisbon Card: Savings tip in the Portuguese capital
Read more: Portugal: What to do in Lisbon – 3 days itinerary
1. NATIONAL PANTHEON (LISBON)
Among the Pantheons of Portugal, the most important is the National Pantheon. As we mentioned earlier, the National Pantheon is located in Church of Santa Engracia, a beautiful building with a large dome and a beautiful nave decorated with colored marble. Its architecture is a mixture of styles: mannerist, baroque and neo-baroque. The National Pantheon houses the following tombs: by the writer Almeida Garrett; the poet João de Deus; former President of the Republic Sidónio Pais; the poet Guerra Junqueiro; former President of the Republic Teófilo Braga; former President of the Republic Marechal Óscar Carmona; the soldier Humberto Delgado; the fado singer Amália Rodrigues; former President of the Republic Manuel de Arriaga; the writer Aquilino Ribeiro; the poet Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen; and the soccer player Eusébio.
- Address: Campo de Santa Clara, 1100-471 Lisbon, Portugal
- Schedules: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm (last entry at 12:40 pm) and from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm (last entry at 4:40 pm) | closed on mondays
- Entrance: €4 | free on the first Sunday of every month | free with Lisbon Card
- How to get: Bus 12, 28, 34, 35, 704, 745, 759, 781, 782 | Electric Tram 28 | Blue Line Metro (Santa Apolónia Station)
Read more: Portugal: Discover the National Pantheon in Lisbon
2. MONASTERY OF JERÓNIMOS (LISBON)
Built in 1502, at the request of King Manuel I, the Jerónimos Monastery is one of the best-known Pantheons in Portugal. It has this name because it was initially built to be a monastery of the Order of Saint Jerome, a Catholic religious order of monastic enclosure founded in the fourteenth century. With an imposing architecture, in Manueline style, mixing Gothic and Renaissance elements, the Jerónimos Monastery is considered one of the great architectural wonders of the country. Since 1983 it has been listed as listed World Heritage from UNESCO. As previously mentioned, between 1836 and 1966, the Jerónimos Monastery was the National Pantheon, before being transferred to the Church of Santa Engrácia. Among the personalities that meet resting at the Jerónimos Monastery are: the navigator Vasco da Gama; the poet Luís Vaz de Camões; writer Alexandre Herculano; King D. Manuel I; King D. João III; King D. Sebastião I; King D. Henrique I; Queen D. Marinha de Aragão; Queen D. Catarina of Austria; the Patriarch of Lisbon D. Francisco de Saldanha da Gama; and the Patriarch of Lisbon D. Fernando de Sousa e Silva.
- Address: Empire Square 1400-206 Lisbon, Portugal
- Schedules: Monastery / Cloister: October to April 10am to 5.30pm / May to September 10am to 6.30pm / Closed on Mondays
- Church: from October to April from 10 am to 5 pm / from May to September from 10 am to 6 pm / Sundays and religious holidays from 2 pm to 6 pm / closed on Mondays
- Entrance: free church / monastery €10 / ticket combined with Belém Tower €12 / buy skip-the-line ticket in this link / free with Lisbon Card
Read more: Portugal: The historic Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon
3. MONASTERY OF SANTA MARIA DA VITÓRIA (BATTLE)
Among the most important Pantheons in Portugal is the Monastery of Santa Maria da Vitória, better known as Mosteiro da Batalha, it is a Dominican monastery built at the request of King D. João I, from 1387, as a thank you to the Virgin Mary for the victory in Portugal. Battle of Aljubarrota. In Manueline style, the monastery was built over two centuries, during the reign of 7 kings and was inaugurated in 1517. Several important names in Portuguese history are buried there. Since 1983, the Manueline-style building has been listed as UNESCO World Heritage, and, in 2007, he was also elected one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. In the Monastery of Batalha are buried Infante Dom Henrique; princess Filipa de Lencastre; king Duarte I; king Afonso V; Queen Eleanor of Aragon; Pedro from Portugal; prince Afonso; Queen Elizabeth of Avis; Fernando, the Holy Infant; King John II; between others.
- Address: Largo Infante Dom Henrique, 2440-109 Batalha, Portugal
- Schedules: daily
- mid-October to October 9:00am to 6:00pm (last entry at 5:30pm)
- April to mid-October 9am to 6:30pm (last entry at 6pm)
- Entrance: Single Ticket: 6€ | free for children under 12
- World Heritage Ticket (Alcobaça, Batalha, Convent of Christ): €15 – valid for 7 days
Read more: Batalha Monastery: World Heritage Site in Portugal
4. MONASTERY OF SANTA CRUZ (COIMBRA)
The monastery was founded in 1131 during the reign of D. Afonso Henriques, the first King of Portugal. At the time of its foundation, the Church of the Monastery of Santa Cruz was considered the most important church in the country, since Coimbra had become the capital of the Kingdom of Portugal and D. Afonso Henriques participated in religious services when he returned from his battles during the Reconquista Christian. The Monastery of Santa Cruz is recognized as a National Pantheon, since 2003, for housing the tombs of the first two kings of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques and D. Sancho I. Both tombs were erected around 1520 in Gothic style with several details carved with Renaissance and Manueline elements. As it houses these tombs, the Church and Monastery of Santa Cruz is considered one of the most historically important Pantheons in Portugal.
- Address: Praça 8 de Maio, 3001-300 Coimbra, Portugal
- Schedules: Church: Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm | Saturday from 9 am to 12.30 pm and from 2 pm to 5 pm | Sunday from 16:00 to 17:30
- Monastery: Monday to Saturday from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm | Sunday from 1pm to 5pm
- Entrance: Church: free (no access to the tombs of the kings in the main chapel) | Monastery: €3
Read more: Coimbra: Santa Cruz Monastery and the 1st King of Portugal
5. MONASTERY OF SANTA MARIA DE ALCOBAÇA (ALCOBAÇA)
The Real Monastery of Santa Maria de Alcobaça, more commonly called the Monastery of Alcobaça, is a monastery of great historical importance located in the city of Alcobaça. It was founded in 1153 by the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques. In 1989, the monastery entered the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and, in 2007, was elected one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. In 1308, King D. Dinis ordered the construction of a huge cloister, initially known as Cloister of Silence, the largest medieval cloister in Portugal. In the fourteenth century, it became home to the tombs of D. Pedro I of Portugal and D. Inês de Castro, who starred in one of the most famous (and tragic) love stories of the Middle Ages (Read more: Coimbra: Quinta das Lágrimas and the tragedy of Inês de Castro). Other personalities buried at the Monastery of Alcobaça include Queen Beatriz of Castile; King Afonso II, King Afonso III; Pedro Afonso, Master of Avis (half-brother of King Afonso Henriques); Queen Urraca of Castile; between others.
- Address: 2460-018 Alcobaça, Portugal
- Schedules: daily from October to March from 9 am to 6 pm | April to September from 9 am to 7 pm
- Entrance: free for church | pay for the monastery
- Single ticket: €6
- Sacristy Ticket: €2
- World Heritage Ticket: €15 (includes Alcobaça Monastery, Convent of Christ and Batalha Monastery) – valid for 1 year
- Thematic Visits: groups of up to 10 people lasting 1 hour – learn more here
Read more: Alcobaça Monastery: Royal Pantheon and World Heritage Site
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6. ROYAL PANTHEON OF THE DYNASTY OF BRAGANÇA & PANTHEON OF THE PATRIARCAS OF LISBON (LISBON)
In the list of Pantheons in Portugal there are also two others located within the Monastery of Sao Vicente de Fora: the Royal Pantheon of the Bragança Dynasty and the Pantheon of the Patriarchs of Lisbon. The monastery was built between 1582 and 1629 in Mannerist style in the historic center of Lisbon. The church is considered one of the main architectural works made at the time of the Philippine Dynasty, its name “de Fora” is due to the fact that it was built outside the city walls.
- ROYAL PANTHEON OF THE DYNASTY OF BRAGANÇA: It is the place where many kings, princes and infants of the Dynasty of Bragança, the last Portuguese dynasty, are buried. Among the main names are: King D. João IV, King D. Afonso VI; King D. Pedro II; King D. João V; King D. José I; King D. Pedro III; King D. João VI; Queen Consort Carlota Joaquina; Queen D. Maria II; D. Pedro V; D. Luís I; D. Carlos I; D. Pedro, Prince of Brazil; between others.
- PANTHEON OF THE PATRIARCH OF LISBON: Built in 1955, it consists of a simple rectangular room, without much decoration, with a stone altar. Its purpose is to guard the remains of members of the Patriarchate of Lisbon, an ecclesiastical district based in Lisbon. The vast majority of the Patriarchs of Lisbon are buried from the beginning of the 19th century to the present day.
- Address: Largo de São Vicente, 1100-572 Lisbon, Portugal
- Schedules: Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm | closed on mondays
- Entrance: 5€ | guided tour: +2€ | see thematic visits here
7. PANTHEON OF THE DUQUES OF BRAGANÇA (VILA VIÇOSA)
The Pantheon of the Dukes of Bragança is located within the Church and Convent of the Augustines, in Vila Viçosa, in the District of Évora, Alentejo. Founded in 1267 by D. Afonso III, the religious building was built in shack style and dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Graça. In 1944, the Pantheon of the Dukes of Bragança was built. There are Dukes of the Bragança dynasty from the 15th to the 20th century. Among some names, we highlight the Dukes of Bragança: D. Afonso I (first Duke of Bragança); D. Fernando I; D. Fernando II; D. Jaime I; D. Jaime I; D. Teodósio I; D. João I; D. Theodosius II; in addition to D. Manuel de Bragança and Duarte Nuno de Bragança.
- Address: Terreiro do Paço 1, 7160-255 Vila Viçosa, Portugal
- Schedules: from June to September: Tuesday from 2 pm to 6 pm | from wednesday to sunday from 10 am to 1 pm and from 2 pm to 6 pm | closed on mondays
- October to May: Tuesday from 2pm to 5pm | from wednesday to sunday from 10 am to 1 pm and from 2 pm to 5 pm | closed on mondays
- Entrance: 3€
8. PANTHEON OF THE DUQUESES OF BRAGANÇA (VILA VIÇOSA)
Built between 1515 and 1533, at the request of King James I, 4th Duke of Bragança, the Panteão das Duchesas de Bragança is located in the old Church of the Convent of Christ's Wounds, also in Vila Viçosa, in Alentejo. The interior of the church is lined with tiles from the early 17th century and the high altar is decorated with gilded woodwork and paintings from the 16th century. The Pantheon was built with the aim of housing the tombs of the Duchesses and the unmarried daughters of the Dukes of Bragança. There are buried the daughters of King D. João I (D. Angélica, D. Isabel and D. Maria); the daughters of D. Jaime I (D. Isabel de Bragança, D. Maria das Chagas, Vicência and the illegitimate D. Antónia da Encarnação and D. Maria); D. Ana de Velasco e Girón, wife of D. Teodósio II; D. Catarina, daughter of D. Teodósio II; D. Catarina, daughter of D. Duarte; D. Beatriz de Lencastre, wife of Teodósio I; the princess of the Brazilian imperial family Maria Francisca of Orléans and Bragança; among others. Currently, the convent houses the Pousada Convento de Vila Viçosa (also known as Pousada D. João IV), which is part of the Pousadas de Portugal hotel chain, part of the group of Historic Inns.
- Address: Terreiro do Paço, 7160-251 Vila Viçosa, Portugal
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Read more about Portugal:
- Portugal: What to do in Lisbon – 3 days itinerary
- Portugal: What to do in Sintra – 1, 2 or 3 day itinerary
- Portugal: What to do in Cascais – Itinerary for 1 or more days
- Portugal: What to do in Porto – 2 or 3 days itinerary
- Portugal: What to do in Braga – 1 day itinerary
- Portugal: What to do in Guimarães – 1 day itinerary
- Portugal: What to do in Aveiro – 1 day itinerary
- Portugal: What to do in Coimbra – 1 or 2 day itinerary
- Portugal: What to do in Alcobaça – Itinerary and Tips
- Portugal: What to do in Batalha – Itinerary and Tips
- Portugal: What to do in Óbidos – 1 day itinerary
