We stopped for a few days at Alcobaça. The parking is right in the centre of town, so easy access for the supermarket and launderette.
There is a tragic love story attached to the town of King Pedro and his wife Ines – In the 1300’s Pedro’s father has Ines decapitated because he didn’t approve of their relationship. Pedro never forgave his father or the murderers, and once his father died he had the murderers hearts ripped out. He then had two intricate stone tombs made for himself and Ines, and they were laid to rest together in the monastery here at Alcobaça.
We visited the monastery, founded in the 1100s, and visited the tombs of Pedro and Ines.
The Gothic building is impressive, at the time of completion it was the largest monastery in Portugal, and is still the largest church.