Batalha is a town in Central Portugal. It can be reached by car from Lisbon, Portugal, in around one and a half hours by taking A1 to A15. Porto, Portugal, is only two hours away by car. Tourists may stop in Batalha when traveling between Lisbon and Porto to experience its rich history and well-known monastery. Other worthwhile destinations within an hour of Batalha are Obidos and Nazare. Batalha is an excellent stopover when traveling between destinations in and around Central Portugal. Tourists often visit Batalha to experience the UNESCO World Heritage site, Batalha Monastery. Officially known as the Monastery of Saint Mary of the Victory (Mosteiro de Santa Maria da Vitoria), Batalha Monastery was completed in the 1500s. Its exterior Gothic architecture is impressive, along with the interior chapels housing the tombs of past Portuguese royalty. Batalha Monastery is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (6:30 p.m. between April and mid-October), and tickets start at €10. Senior citizens, young adults aged 13-24, and people with disabilities can receive a 50% discount on the ticket price. Additionally, children 12 and under enter free of charge. Visitors should allot between one and two hours to fully explore Batalha Monastery. Arriving in the morning is ideal because there is a fantastic lunch spot only a few steps away. Restaurante Burro Velho is a Portuguese restaurant located next to Batalha Monastery. Burro Velho offers an impressive menu featuring fresh fish, steak, and other Portuguese fare. They also have a full bar of wine, beer, and cocktails. Reservations are encouraged as it can get quite busy during lunchtime, which runs from noon to 3 p.m. Monday - Saturday (Burro Velho is closed on Sundays). You will not be disappointed in penciling in Burro Velho as your restaurant of choice during a day trip to Batalha. After lunch, another destination worth visiting is only a three-minute walk from Burro Velho. Batalha has a museum called Batalha Municipal Community Museum (MCCB) or Museu da Comunidade Concelhia da Batalha. MCCB focuses on the history of Batalha, with exhibits spanning from before the prehistoric era to the present day. You can learn about the first humans roaming around Batalha, the construction of the Batalha Monastery, and much more at MCCB. Be sure to visit MCCB Wednesday - Sunday from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. or 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. Note that MCCB is closed Mondays and Tuesdays, as well as between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. during days of operation.
In summary, Batalha is a fantastic place to visit in Central Portugal. While Batalha only has a few noteworthy places to visit, it can provide a full day of activities. Here is a summary of the highlighted places to visit for a memorable time in Batalha. Day Trip to Batalha Itinerary Morning - Batalha Monastery (Mosteiro de Santa Maria da Vitoria) Lunch - Restaurante Burro Velho Afternoon - Batalha Municipal Community Museum MCCB (Museu da Comunidade Concelhia da Batalha) For more Portugal travel information, check out my travel guide on how to skip the line at Livraria Lello. Livraria Lello is an enchanting bookstore located in Porto, Portugal. Since its opening in 1906, Livraria Lello (or Lello Bookstore) is often called the most beautiful bookstore in the world. Seeing Livraria Lello's mesmerizing staircase, enormous bookshelves, and stained-glass ceiling is a treat for book lovers. Also, fans of the Harry Potter series may want to visit Livraria Lello as a rumor suggests it inspired Hogwarts Castle. Due to Livraria Lello's popularity, entry into the bookstore costs €5 per person. Still, you may use the ticket voucher to receive €5 off a single book purchase. Children aged 0-3 may enter Livraria Lello for free with an accompanying adult. Furthermore, visitors may have to wait in line outside of the front entrance. Wait times to experience Livraria Lello can vary depending on the date and time. Fortunately, there is a way to reserve a ticket-voucher entry in advance, enabling visitors to skip the line regardless of the wait time. Livraria Lello's ticket voucher web page allows visitors to purchase entry in advance. When purchasing a ticket through Livraria Lello's web page, visitors select their date and time to enter the bookstore. Advanced tickets are available every thirty minutes during store hours. Visitors may purchase ticket vouchers months in advance or even the day of a planned visit, so long as tickets do not sell out. Purchasing an advanced ticket voucher for €5 (or €0 for children three and under) provides preferred entry at the designated time slot ahead of others queued in a general entry line. However, advanced ticket voucher holders may need to form a separate line for access, primarily if their time slot gets sold out. Suppose a visitor wishes to skip all lines and head directly into Livraria Lello at a designated date and time. In that case, there is another ticket option available. Priority ticket vouchers are available in advance, allowing visitors to skip all queues for entry at a specific date and time. Also, purchasing a priority ticket voucher includes a copy of a book from a pre-determined list. At the time of writing, the book options are The Art of War, Romeo and Juliet, The Book of the Jungle, and Los Lusiadas. A priority ticket voucher costs €15.90 or €16.90, depending on the selected book.
A Livraria Lello employee will ask to scan any ticket vouchers purchased in advance before allowing entry. Visitors should ensure they buy advanced ticket vouchers at least one hour before the scheduled time slot to ensure timely delivery of ticket vouchers via email. Utilizing Livraria Lello's advanced ticket voucher options can save considerable time, creating a more enjoyable experience. For more Portugal travel information, check out my day trip to Batalha, Portugal travel guide. |
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