Monastery of São Martinho de Tibães

The first information about a monastic community in the regio—the Monastery of Dumio, close to Tibães, founded by Saint Martin of Braga—dates from the 6th century.

During the Middle Ages, after the Kingdom of Portugal became independent, rich and vast properties in the North of the country came into the Monastery's possession.

In the first half of the 17th century, with the ruined condition of the old monastery and the vast resources at their disposal, the monks began the radical rebuilding that gave origin to the ensemble that exists today.

The works began with the refectory and cemetery cloisters and the church, which was built between 1628 and 1661 in Mannerist style by architects Manuel Álvares and João Turriano.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the monastery was a site of considerable artistic activity and had an enormous influence in the Baroque and Rococo art of Northern Portugal and overseas colonies.