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Photo: Carlos Luis M C da Cruz, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Before the monastery existed, here was a chapel, erected by São Gonçalo de Amarante. In 1540, it was transformed into a large monastery with the construction of a Dominican convent in honor of São Gonçalo, with authorization and help from D. João III and his wife, Rainha Dª Catarina. The construction of the Church and the Convent ended in the time of Philip I, before 1600. The construction of the portico and the Balcony of the Kings began on October 12, 1683. In the church, the tomb of São Gonçalo stands out, a magnet for several pilgrims.
Igreja de São Gonçalo is a church in Amarante, northern Portugal. It is classified as a National Monument.
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It was founded in 1947 by Albano Sardoeira to gather materials from the history of Amarante. Over the years, he specialized in contemporary art, bringing together one of the most important collections in the country, which includes works by Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso, António Carneiro, Jaime Isidoro, Nadir Afonso, Rui Pimental and Cargaleiro.
Biblioteca Municipal Albano Sardoeira, Albano Sardoeira Municipal Library
The Municipal Library is the result of the former Santa Clara Convent, perhaps built in the 13th century. The most likely date, however, will be 1383, when D. João I granted the letter of protection for religious women. It was set on fire in April 1809 during the French Invasions. It was later transformed into the building that today is seen by an emigrant from Brazil - not without prolonged archaeological research, which exposed many artefacts. Nowadays it is the Municipal Archive and Library of Amarante.