São João de Tarouca Monastery

Another stop I made on the Route of the Cistercian Vineyards was in São João de TAROUCA, to visit the Cistercian monaster (the first of its kind to be built in Portugal), classified as a national monument. The monastery is next to the Varosa River, in a fertile valley, and was called monastery of S. João de Barosa or S. João Mondim. Of all the buildings that formed the large monastic complex only a few ruins remain (which are being restored) of the cloister and other buildings, but the church is largely intact and is truly wonderful. Its construction dates back to 1152, although throughout its existence it has undergone numerous renovations and expansions, especially in the 17th and 18th centuries.