Monuments

The group of buildings that comprise the Convento de Santo Agostinho, situated on the left bank of the River Lis close to Moinho do Papel, consists of the church, monastery, cloister, and the old Seminary building.

The monastery was founded in 1579 by the bishop Dom Frei Gaspar do Casal, whose coat of arms can be seen above the main door. He was given permission to build the monastery by the king Dom Sebastião, but the building work was only completed in the 17th century, with subsequent alterations being made in the 18th century. With an austere design that is particularly noticeable on the façade, where there are two large towers and registers that are marked out by double pilasters, the building stands imposingly amidst the city’s urban fabric, reflecting the taste that is also found in the cathedral. The Seminary was created in 1671 by the bishop Dom Pedro Vieira da Silva.

The Bishop of Maranhão (Brazil) lived here in exile for a very long time, fleeing from the persecutions to which the Jesuits were subjected as a result of the anti-religious policy of the Marquis of Pombal, who was interested in reducing their power and influence. After the suppression of the religious orders in 1834, the monastery was transformed into a military barracks and, in 1944, the church was returned to the safekeeping of the Diocese of Leiria.

At an artistic level, the lias altarpiece of the chancel is an interesting example of the work of Ernesto Korrodi. With the exception of the church, the monastery’s buildings are now in a poor state of conservation.