• Alcobertas Dolmen and Sta. Mª Madalena Church (St. Mary Magdalene)

  • Alcobertas church or Sta. Mª Magdalene church is a rare example of Christianization of a megalithic funerary monument (late Neolithic) who survived to the present day, first as an hermitage and after as part of a church. Alcobertas dolmen has polygonal plant and is one of the 10 largest in the Iberian Peninsula: It has 7 pillars, which form the burial chamber, and a corridor of unknown original extension, but that are still preserved two pillars that form the passage of the camera into the church. Several reforms have changed parts of the dolmen.

    Dolmen – pre-historic grave consisting of several vertical stones and others serving as a cover, called hat.

    The church must date from late fifteenth century, highlighting, for its antiquity, the Christening sink (Manueline style) and the Holy Water sink, both from the sixteenth century, and tiles (seventeenth century) in the altar frontal (with Mª Magdalene as a sinner) and the arc forming the access to the dolmen (with Saint M. Magdalene praying at Jesus feet). In late eighteenth century were made changes that gave the church the current appearance it has today and the dolmen ceased to function as a presbytery and became a side chapel.

    Local traditions say the dolmen was built by Mary Magdalene, who has brought the stones from Lua sierra or has made the stones here so the believers could atone their sins in this place.

    The dolmen, showed in Alcoberta arms, and the church have been classified as Public Interest.

    GPS: 39.418547, -8.903595

  • Lisboa e Vale do Tejo

  • Rio Maior

  • Serras de Aire e Candeeiros Nature Park

  • Fábrica da Igreja Paroquial da Freguesia de Sta. Mª Madalena

  • Yes.

  • Access to Alcobertas from:

    - Porto de Mós – N362 (direction Alcanede). After 17 km (more or less) in Valverde (near one of the traffic lights) turn right (direction Casais Monizes / Alcobertas. There’s no sign so you have to ask the inhabitants)*; or N243 followed by N1/IC9/IC2 (direction Turquel/ Rio Maior). In the cross to Redondas turn right instead of left. Follow to Vale de Ventos and there turn right to R. do Barreiro. Continue to Casais Monizes.*

    *In Casais Monizes take Av. Principal and continue to Alcobertas by R. do Bairro Social. Take R. Principal and then R. do Centro de Dia that changes its name to R. de Sta. Mª madalena. Turn left to Av. da Igreja.

    - Rio Maior - R. Principal just to Alcobertas and then turn right to Av. da Igreja.

  • Temple

  • Igreja Paroquial de Sta. Mª Madalena

    Av. da Igreja

    2040 011 ALCOBERTAS

  • No

  • In Alcobertas see also the silos and the oven (both from medieval times), the water fountain (olho d’água) and the cave.