Convento Do Beato

The history of Convento do Beato dates back to the 15th century, when Queen D. Isabel was given authorisation to construct a hospice in the chapel of S. Bento for the congregation of the “frades azuis”, the “blue monks” as they were known. Before she was able to fulfil her wish, Queen D. Isabel died, leaving 8,000 gold crowns in her will for building the hospice. In the 16th century, Frei António da Conceição set the construction of the monastery in motion. The story goes that with just seven “tostões” (small coins like farthings) which he had received in alms, he managed to get the building of the magnificent monastery underway. The reputation of this miraculous building increased and in 1602 the people made him into a saint (he was only recognised as such by the church in the 18th century), and they began to refer to him as Beato António (António the Beatified) and his magnificent creation as the Convento do Beato.