Monastery of Serra do Pilar

The Monastery of Serra do Pilar is located in the parish of Santa Marinha e São Pedro da Afurada in the historic centre of Vila Nova de Gaia. The monastery is prominently situated high above the Doura and can be accessed by Jardim do Morro Station on the Porto Metro's D Line, and by the Gaia Cable Car from the riverside of Vila Nova de Gaia.{{cite book |title=Portugal |date=2017 |publisher=Lonely Planet |isbn=1786573229 |edition=10}}

File:Serra-do-Pilar-Across-River.jpg

Construction of the first monastery at the site began in 1538 by the Order of St. Augustine.{{cite web |title=Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar |url=http://www.monumentos.gov.pt/Site/APP_PagesUser/SIPA.aspx?id=5358 |website=Sistema de Informacão para o Património Arquitetónico |publisher=Direção-Geral do Património Cultural |accessdate=4 March 2019 |language=Portuguese}} The initiative dates back to 1527 under the orders of João III to serve as a larger monastic residence for monks from the {{ill|Monastery of Grijó|pt|Mosteiro de Grijó|de|Mosteiro de Grijó}}, in Grijó, which had been in a state of deterioration.{{cite web |title=Sala do Capítulo, refeitório, cozinha, torre e capela do Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar |url=http://www.patrimoniocultural.gov.pt/pt/patrimonio/patrimonio-imovel/pesquisa-do-patrimonio/classificado-ou-em-vias-de-classificacao/geral/view/74711/ |website=Patrimonio Cultural |accessdate=4 March 2019 |language=Portuguese}} The original monastery was completed in 1564 and the cloisters were finished in 1583. The first monastery was quickly rendered obsolete as the facilities were too small for the number of monks in residence. In 1597, work began on the new church and the monastery was slowly updated in phases over the next several decades. The new circular church was inaugurated on July 17, 1672, and the final phases of the monastery were completed by the end of the 17th century.

Serra do Pilar's military importance first became evidenced during the Peninsular War when it was used by General Arthur Wellesley to launch a surprise attack on the French across the Douro, and retake Porto. The monastery's prominent location acted as the only Liberal stronghold on the south side of the Douro during the Siege of Porto.{{cite web |title=Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar |url=https://www.visitportugal.com/en/content/mosteiro-da-serra-do-pilar |website=Visit Portugal |accessdate=4 March 2019}} The monastery was fortified over the course of the 19th century to take advantage of its strategic location. In 1910 the site was declared a National Monument of Portugal. Reconstruction of portions of the monastery that had been destroyed by successive wars began in 1927. In 1947 some of the monastery grounds were converted into a military barracks which remains on the site to this day. Since the late 20th century the monastery and grounds have been open to the public and the church continues to hold Sunday Mass. The monastery was included in the 1996 UNESCO World Heritage Site designation of Porto's historic centre.{{cite web |title=Historic Centre of Oporto, Luiz I Bridge and Monastery of Serra do Pilar |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/755 |website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |publisher=United Nations |accessdate=4 March 2019}}

The Monastery of Serra do Pilar's unique design is influenced by Renaissance and Mannerist elements. The church and cloister are both circular with identical diameters. The church in the west and the cloister in the east are separated by a rectangular choir and chapel. The north wing of the monastery houses the bell tower and dormitories and the south wing houses the sacristy and refectory.

The {{cvt|36|m|ft}}-tall church is the most visible structure of the monastery, dominating the skyline on the south side of the Douro and towering over the {{cvt|20|m|ft}}-tall bell tower. The Church of Serra do Pilar is one of a number of round churches in Western Europe.

{{wide image|Under Dom Luís I Bridge.jpg|600px|Panoramic view from Porto under the Dom Luís I Bridge}}

0 Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar planta 2.jpg|Layout showing the church (1) and cloister (5)

1 Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar Claustro IMG 7360.jpg|The circular cloister

1 Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar Cúpula da igreja IMG 7402.jpg|View inside the church's dome

Iglesia Serra do Pilar, Oporto, Portugal, 2012-05-09, DD 02.JPG|The bell tower and main entrance

Monastery of Serra do Pilar and Jardim do Morro.jpg|View from Jardim do Morro

0 Vista do Porto a partir da Serra do Pilar IMG 7302.jpg|View of Porto from the monastery

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{{World Heritage Sites in Portugal}}

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Category:Christian monasteries in Portugal

Category:Vila Nova de Gaia

Category:Round churches

Category:Roman Catholic churches completed in 1672

Category:World Heritage Sites in Portugal

Category:Former Christian monasteries

Category:Roman Catholic monasteries in Portugal

Category:National monuments in Porto District

Category:16th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Portugal