Parish Church
PARISH CHURCH OF THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
Since its construction began in 1514, at the initiative of King Manuel on hearing the pleas of the town’s local population for a parish service that at that time was not offered by the Monastery, it has come to be regarded as an important testament to the town of Batalha’s Manueline phase.
On the main portal the date of 1532 indicates its completion, supposedly supervised by Boitaca. It is a single nave wooden-beamed church, its quadrangular high altar having a star-shaped vaulted ceiling. Throughout its history, this place of worship has been elaborated on, bit by bit, the baroque enhancements of the 1870s being of note, as was the revivalist intervention of the 20th century, when the ruined belfry, most likely 17th century, was replaced by the current bell tower and where, within the high chapel, the marble-inlaid Renaissance stone altarpiece, from the Martyrs Chapel of the Monastery and belonging to the descendants of Lopo Dias de Sousa, was placed. Special mention must also be made of the beautiful cross arch of the stone baptismal font, also from the Monastery, and the tile work from the demolished Convent of Ara-Coelis, in Alcácer do Sal.
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