Today, let's visit the monastery where the first marriage for love among the Portuguese monarchy was celebrated. It's located at Leça do Balio, a small town in the vicinities of Oporto.
The Monastery is one of the perfect spots for a wedding ceremony, in the neighbouring areas of Oporto. Looking at the flower arrangements inside, I presume there had been one recently...
The Monastery for many centuries has played an important role in supporting the pilgrims walking The Way, the name commonly given to the footpath to and from Santiago de Compostela (Spain). Nowadays, the Way is made up of a multitude of routes, out of which the Portuguese Coastal one is becoming popular year after year.
As a result, two months ago, a bureau that provides support to pilgrims (?), perhaps better calling them tourgrims, was inaugurated in a structure annex to the Monastery that had been the residence of a wealthy family.
As we step into the reception, we see a ceiling with a display of scallop shells - these are iconic symbols of the Way -, together with others such as gourds and crooks (nowadays few walkers use these but hiking poles, instead)
A pilgrim having rest....
Time to wave farewell to the Monastery that for centuries had different purposes: the home of warrior monks, a hospital and a place for pilgrims to stay, as they were walking the Portuguese Way of St. James, which goes from the south of the Iberia Peninsula to Santiago. The red flags of the Order of Malta evoke the hospitality that in the past was believed to be a primary duty of the monks.
~~ See you soon! ~~
~~ Thanks for stopping by ~~
