Monastery of St. Stephen, Leiria

Rua Padre António took me to the western part of the Old Town, to the sanctuary of the Immaculate Heart of St. Mary (Monumento ao Imaculado Coração de Maria). The monument was built on the initiative of the religious association Grupo da Imaculada founded in 1984. In February 2024, the statue of St. Mary was stolen. Just below the sanctuary is the convent (Convento de Santo Estêvão), founded in 1211 on the site of the former Moorish quarter. Workshops of artisans, mainly potters and blacksmiths, settled around the monastery, which played an important role in the prosperity of the medieval city. The hospital operating at the monastery was named Ferreiros (Blacksmith Hospital) and operated until the end of the first quarter of the 20th century. In 1926, the building was occupied by a medical college for girls. The building currently belongs to the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria. There is a good view of the city from the square in front of the monastery.

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