Monuments

Halfway between Amarante and Penafiel stands this ancient and quite unusual mediaeval monument, whose foundation has been attributed to D. Gascão de Moniz, a contemporary of Ferdinand I, the Great, king of Castile and León in the tenth century.

Over the centuries, a number of alterations have been made to the mediaeval convent, although it still retains much of its original robust appearance, showing how it was frequently used as a shelter in the event of an attack. The belfry that can be seen in the churchyard was removed from the mediaeval tower when the monastery was restored in the 1930s. At the side of the church is an imposing crenellated tower. The interior has an impressive structure, being divided into three naves.

Also worthy of note are the extraordinary sculptures of the capitals, highlighting the great imagination of the anonymous artists and depicting the figures of mythical animals, including a dragon.