St. Peter of Alcantara

Born in Spain, in 1499, at the age of 25, enters a convent near Valencia de Alcántara, taking the name of Friar Peter of Alcantara.
In 1539 travels to Portugal to reform one of the Franciscan provinces under the rule of the Capuchins.

1542 – The Arrabidos

Friar Peter set place in Arrábida Mountain, where, with Martinho Benavides, founded Our Lady of Arrábida Monastery.
Here he wrote all the rule for the new community and helped to found other new monasteries for the so-called, from then on, Arrábidos.

1589 – Donation of Berle site

"For the new monastery construction, contributed the distinguished locals Antonio Mogo de Mello and his wife, Angela Sigea de Velasco (lady of princess Mary, daughter of King Manuel) who donated a field in Berle site, 1 km south of Torres Novas."  Pinho Leal

1591 Construction of the monastery

Works began in 1591 at the expenses of Don Álvaro de Lencastre, 3rd Duke of Aveiro, great-grandson of King John II and protector of the Arrábida Monasteries.

1593 Arrival of Arrabidos friars

"In 1593 the Arrabidos community arrived at the new monastery, to the satisfaction of the town people, who desired the friars nearby. It had the invocation of Saint Anthony."
Fortunato de Almeida, História da Igreja em Portugal, vol.II, 1968.

Characteristics

These friars advocated a life of withdrawal, in prayer and poverty. They walked barefoot and dressed burel habits with long hood hanging on the back. Equally simple were their monasteries: relative small buildings of modest appearance with farming area and well.

1640 – First improvements

"As the construction was done in such haste, it had little stability, and after just 46 years threatened eminent ruin. By this time the guardian, friar António de Moura renewed some parts of the building: the choir was moved from the back of the chancel, up the main door, (cont.)

1640 – First improvements

(cont.) the cloister was rebuilt with a vaulted ceiling and the dormitories and others annexes were renewed. These improvements permitted the monastery to be designated as a Province and the arrival of 20 more friars, with the possibility to carry out their studies here.

Around 1730 - Tiles

Decoration of the church with the tile panels depicting life scenes of St. Anthony and St. Francis.
As it sais on a niche gravestone in the Chancel: in 1731 are transfered to here, the remains of the brother Friar Boaventura "religious of great virtue".

1755 Earthquake and
1834 end of religious orders

In 1755, part of the cloister vault collapsed and the north wall of the chapel split completely.
In 1834, Joaquim António de Aguiar, The Friar-Killer, decreed the extinction of religious orders, after which the convent was closed.

The Atouguias and the
Holy House of Mercy

In 1837 a local noble, Luiz de Atouguia, whose ancestors were buried here, bought the estate from the government.
30 years later, his brother left it in his will to the Holy House of Mercy, a well known portuguese charity institute.

1875 – Chapel Reconstruction

In 1875 (date shown on the chapel facade) the Holy House of Mercy rebuilt the church of the old monastery.
The rest of the building, in complete ruin, as well as the lands, were bought by António de Oliveira Forte who used it for farming.