Alcobaça makes a great base to explore the World Heritage sites in central Portugal. It's within 50-or so kilometers of Tomar, Fatima, Nazare and Batalha. And the hotel Santa Maria is the perfect place to stay . . . for a night, or five. It offers free parking, good wifi, reasonable rates, a good breakfast and English TV! And it’s right across the street from the Cistercian Monastery of Santa Maria d'Alcobaça, resting place of star-crossed lovers, Dom Pedro and Doña Inés de Castro, Portugal’s Romeo and Juliet. Their tombs are as elaborate as their story is interesting.
Inés' tomb
Prince Pedro, heir to the throne, spied Inés just as he was to marry her cousin, Catherine. As his father, Alfonso IV had arranged the union he dutifully went through with the marriage and produced a future king, but when Catherine died, Inés could be his. His father forbade the marriage, so the couple married secretly and had four children. Alfonso ordered Inés to be murdered and Pedro literally revolted. Today their tombs sit on either side of the cathedral, foot to foot so they will see each other on Judgement Day.
