The Church of Nossa Senhora do Espinheiro frequently received visits from our kings, especially those of the House of Avis, who had great devotion to the Virgin, and for this reason, lavished great gifts and privileges upon it. During the expedition to Arzila, King Afonso V made a vow to Our Lady of the Espinheiro, asking for her help for the Portuguese forces in combat; and, should he emerge victorious, he would offer her a silver statue, depicting him on horseback and dressed in white armor. Once the fortress was conquered, King Afonso V fulfilled his vow.

King João II, having inherited from his father a great devotion to Our Lady of the Espinheiro, would frequently visit the convent whenever the court was in Évora, even going so far as to stay overnight in the guesthouse he had ordered to be built next to the church, where he had a private gallery for his use. It was in this convent that the King convened the Cortes in 1481.

In 1490, King João II convened the Cortes in Évora to request aid for the wedding of his son, Prince Afonso, to Princess Isabel, daughter of the Catholic Monarchs. Legend has it that, before the wedding, Princess Isabel was visited in her chambers by Prince Afonso and that they “joined together.” That same night, a storm caused a merlon of the church to fall, which, according to the monks, was a sign of heavenly displeasure and divine punishment.

King Manuel I regularly visited the convent, always bringing valuable offerings to the Virgin, to whom he was deeply devoted. It is said that it was at the Convent of the Espinheiro that this king received the news of the discovery of India by Vasco da Gama, although this cannot be stated with certainty.

King João III, like his father and his predecessors, frequently went to the Espinheiro. This preference for the convent led him to grant it several privileges, to confirm others, and to choose it as the pantheon for his children.
King Sebastião often walked from Évora to the Espinheiro and lived the life of the friars, attending their offices and practices in the refectory and sleeping in a simple cell. This king confessed to his great friend Friar Álvaro de Olivença, and for this reason, he ordered the construction of a small hermitage next to the main chapel, where he would also retreat in prayer.

This unfortunate king loved the convent so much that he ordered a bullring to be built there, where bullfights were held, with the monarch himself occasionally participating in the bullfighting. The friars never failed to attend these festivities, often joined by Cardinal-Archbishop Henrique, by special invitation.

In 1663, Prince John of Austria also passed through the Espinheiro, but in this instance, the Convent served as lodging for the Castilian general staff during the Restoration War.

Looking at the presence of the Church of Nossa Senhora do Espinheiro in Portuguese history as a whole, we realize, not without some emotion, that these stones saw many illustrious figures pass by and witnessed the yearnings and behavior of many who preceded us. Kings, princes, prelates, great lords, and great ladies of the court, through their devotion and generosity, made the convent a center of influence and refuge, for which reason we can consider it inextricably linked not only to the city of Évora, but also, and more broadly, to the life of the Court itself.

Historical Journeys with the Concierge
A complimentary offer for our guests, a guided tour of the Church of Nossa Senhora do Espinheiro by our Concierge, every day at 5:00 PM.