Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz City Portugal is a special place to visit and the city has a reputation of holding a special place in the hearts of the Portuguese. Like all other places in Portugal, the city also has a history of its own. The town kept developing under the influence of the nearby towns. Visitors to the city will find the peacefulness prevalent in the city a major source of attraction. One sure place to visit which most travelers do not miss out on the opportunity is ‘Santa Cruz Monastery’. The monastery was founded outside the Coimbra protective walls. The monastery was at that time the most important monastic house of the Portuguese monarchy. The monastery was dedicated to the Order of St. Augustine and was since then granted numerous papal privileges and royal grants. This allowed for the buildup of a significant patrimony and at the same time it also laid the foundation for the consolidation of the politico-institutional scene. The cultural scene also received further enhancement and today the Santa Cruz Blues Festival is quite a popular event attracting a huge gathering.

The school of the monastery gained prominence in the medieval times as a meeting point for the intellectual and power elites. Today, there is no resemblance of the early Romanesque Monastery. It had been completely reformed by King Manuel’s order in the first half of the 16th century. And, from then onwards the monarch assumed the Monastery tutelage. The travelers will find some suitable accommodation in the city to take of their lodging and dining needs. The services of the hotels in the city are hospitable and friendly ensuring the guests are happy with their stay and have a pleasurable trip.