General view

The monastery at Batalha was constructed by Joao I (1385-1433) in fulfillment of a vow after the victory in battle against Castile at Aljubarrota. The complex of the Dominican convent and burial chapel was added to until well into the 16th century. It became the model for virtually all important church building commissions throughout Portugal.

A first stage began in 1388 with the design of the overall layout by Afonso Domingues, to which was added the construction of the church, consisting of nave and aisles, with a transept and five attached chapels. Though based on a common type among the preaching orders, the building is unusual for its dimensions: 80 metres long, 22 metres wide, and 32,5 metres high.

Afonso Domingues completed part of the church, and the royal cloister and the chapter house. In 1402, Master Huguet took over the work. He completed the vault on the parts begun by Domingues. He increased the height of the nave and constructed the west front, where the rich sculptural program of the doorway is framed by the linear decoration of the centre section and crowned by Flamboyant tracery windows.

View the ground plan of the Monastery of Santa Maria de Vitória, Batalha.