Monastery of Tibães
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The Monastery of Tibães is a monastery situated near Braga in the north of Portugal.
The Monastery was founded in the 6th century, but nothing remains of the earlier buildings. At the end of the 11th century, the space was once again occupied by monks. During the Low Middle Ages, the Monastery came into possession of riches and vast properties. In 1567 it became the Main house of the Order of Saint Benedict for Portugal and Brazil. In the first half of the 17th century, in view of the ruined condition of the former building and the vast resources at their disposal, the monks started the great works which originated the ensemble that exists today. They began with the church, built between 1628 and 1661, reorganised the Refectory Cloister and built the Cemetery Cloister. Up to 1704, they built the Monastery's new wings housing the Gate House, the "Recibo", the Dormitory, the Guest House, the Chapter House and the Library. The church is one of the most magnificent temples in Portugal and one of the greatest landmarks of Baroque art. Architects as Manuel Álvares and André Soares worked in it. Sold at an auction sale in 1864, the Tibães Monastery and all its surrounding areas fell in decay and ruin. Only in 1986 started a recovery project, when it became a State property.
