Travanca - São Salvador

São Salvador is a parish church today. Erected in the 13th century it was the church of the adjoining Benedictine monastery, founded mid 11th century.

The church dates back to the late 12th/early 13th century. Graf, Mattoso, and Real, authors of "Portugal Roman", connect the founding of the monastery to the descendents of Munio Viegas o Gasco, a fighter against the Saracens. They claim, that where the church is now, once was a mosque. The convent existed upto 1834 - and the buildings now serve different institutions.

The massive tower may date back to a defence line during the Reconquista. The battlements were probably added in the 13th century, maybe even later.

When I visited the church in 2018 it was party hidden under scaffoldings. Now the reconstruction was completed. Though I will add just a few "new" photos.

the cemetery