He was a Spanish-Portuguese master builder and architect originally from Cantabria (former Kingdom of Castile; present-day Spain), who developed his mature career in Portugal, where he settled in c.1508.

His career also highlights the gradual promotion of the position of master mason (medieval) to that of architect – in the modern sense of the word – with the corresponding recognition and rise in social status.

Author of a vast and notable body of built work, João de Castilho is linked to the building of five historic monuments classified by UNESCO as World Heritage, two great highlights being the Jerónimos Monastery and the Convent of Christ.

There he executed the celebrated gate and portico to the Church, responding to the beautiful Manueline window produced by Diogo de Arruda.

In 1517, he succeeded Diogo Boitaca as director of public works at the Monastery of the Jeronimos, where he designed the extraordinary southern portico (along with Gil Vicente, author of the Belém Monstrance).