Alcobaca and Batalha

We stopped in Alcobaca and Batalha on our drive to Coimbra.  The Mosteiro de Santa Maria in Alcobaca was built in the 14th century but the façade was redone in the 18th century.

It holds the carved tombs of Dom Pedro and Ines de Castro,

two famous people in Portuguese history with a kind of Romeo and Juliet story.

There is also a 14th century cloister.

Next we drove to Batalha, the site of the battle forcing the Spanish king out of Portugal in 1385.

We happened upon the ceremony of the changing of the guard for the tomb of the unknown soldier.

 Another beautiful cloister

 We especially liked the unfinished chapels.  They have no roof so everything is exposed to the elements - it gives you a very different perspective when you are not inside.