2-370-829 - Samuel Magal/Sites & Photos/Heritage Images

Cloister of King John I, Monastery of Batalha, Batalha, Portugal, 2009. The Dominican Batalha Monastery (Mosteiro de Santa Maria da Vitoria de Batalha) is a magnificent example of medieval Portuguese architecture. In 1385, King John I vowed that if his outnumbered army defeated the Castilians at the important Battle of Aljubarrota, he would build a magnificent monastery dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Construction of the monastery, which combines late Gothic and Manueline architectural styles, began in 1386 but was not completed until c1517. The royal cloister was built during John's reign, with embellishments in the Manueline style added to the interior arches later. It includes a square Chapter House with a huge Gothic vault. The south wing, which backs onto the church, and the east wing are the work of the first architect Dominiques. The north wing, which leads to the former dormitory, and the west wing, were built by the second architect Huguet. The colonnettes, supporting these intricate arcade screens, are decorated with spiral motifs, armillaries, lotus blossoms, briar branches, pearls and shells and exotic vegetation. The monastery was designated a World Heritage Site in 1983.