Origins Located in the place of Recarei, next to the River Leça and a short distance from the ancient Roman road that, crossing the River Leça at Ponte da Pedra, linked Porto to Braga, the Monastery of Leça do Balio already existed in the 17th century. X. It would be at that time a small monastery whose original invocation was the S. Salvador do Mundo, with a modest foundation, perhaps of a family type and intended to welcome the members of the employer's family, as was common at that time. Its patrons were, in the century. X, Trutesendo Osoredes († 995) and his wife Unisco Mendes, who belonged to an important family of the ancient local nobility. The oldest document that refers to it dates from the year 1003 and refers to a donation of an estate to the friars and nuns of the basilica founded in the place of Recarei. In 1021 Unisco Mendes and his son Osoredo donated this monastery to Tudeildo, abbot of the Mozarabic monastery of Vacariça, near Coimbra. This donation marks a period of important growth and prestige for Leça, especially after 1026, when Tudeildo took refuge here from Muslim incursions. From this period and from the pre-Romanesque church that would have been built in the time of Abbot Tudeildo, some of its constructive elements are still visible, scattered throughout the outer space.
The Knights of the Hospital and the Commendation of Leça in the century XII D. Teresa donates the monastery to the military-religious order of the Knights Hospitallers, who will build their first mother house in Portuguese territory here. This donation that marks the entry of this order in Portugal is traditionally referred to as having occurred between 1112 and 1116, since the document that proves the first donation is not known. Other authors also point out the period between 1122 and 1128 as the most likely dates for the entry of the first knights of this order into Portuguese territory. In 1140, D. Afonso Henriques extends the donation made by his mother, granting the monastery, through the Couto Charter, jurisdiction over a wide territory that included the parishes of Leça, Custóias, Barreiros, Gueifães and S. Mamede. Founded in the context of the spirit of Crusade and Holy War, the Order of the Hospital was an international organization directly dependent on the Pope and whose main mission was to protect and assist pilgrims as well as participate in military incursions against Muslims. Due to its privileged geographical location, the Monastery of Leça is linked to some of the most significant moments in the History of Portugal. Kings and queens passed through here, such as Afonso Henriques and Sancho I. Queen Santa Mafalda and Constable Nuno Álvares Pereira lived here. In this place, the marriage between King Ferdinand I and Leonor Teles was celebrated here in 1372. It also played an important role in assisting pilgrims who demanded the tomb of the Apostle Santiago in Compostela. With the abolition of the Baliado de Leça, in 1834, following the extinction of religious orders in Portugal, the monastery, with the exception of the church, was abandoned and sold at public auction, falling into deep ruin. Already in the century 20th century passed into the possession of Engº Ezequiel de Campos who carried out extensive restoration and remodeling works. Despite this, it is still possible to identify, in the farm located next to the church, a significant set of architectural elements belonging to the structure of the old Gothic monastery.
The Monastery Church The Gothic structure of the monument dates back to the remodeling and expansion works carried out in the 19th century. XIV by initiative of Balio D. Frei Estevão Vasques de Pimentel. All that remains of the monastery is the church, with a cruciform plan, flanked by a high quadrangular tower, equipped with balconies with boulders, halfway up and at the top, at an angle, with loopholes, giving the church the appearance of a true military fortress. According to descriptions prior to the demolitions carried out in 1844, the convent building was developed towards the south side of the church. The south side door would thus serve as the main link between the church and the rest of the convent complex. Surrounded by a strong wall, according to witnesses, it also had three more towers in addition to the existing one. The traces of one of these towers are still visible in the “Quinta do Mosteiro” next to the head of the church. The connection between the two buildings disappeared following the demolitions carried out in the 1930s. XX. Inside, there is a bronze plaque on the tomb of Frei Estevão Vasques, with various decorative motifs and containing the epitaph of the deceased in Leonese characters. Other reasons of interest are the works by Diogo Pires, o Moço (16th century), namely the baptismal font, the tomb of Frei João Coelho and the cross located outside the monastery. It is classified as a National Monument by the Decree of 16.06.1910 DG 136 of 23 June 1910.
Address: R. de Santos Lessa, 4465-332 Leça do Balio
Contact: 22 901 0153
Comments