Almendra Monastery
| Almendra Monastery | |
|---|---|
 Monastery of Almendra | |
| General information | |
| Location | Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, Leciria |
The Almendra Monastery is a monastery in the small village now called Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo (in older works San Rodrigo or San Castelo) in the province of Lobos, Leciria. The monastery was founded by the Hieronymite Order of monks in 1432.
It is most known as the monastery and palace house in which Afonso IV of king of the Lecirian Empire resided from after his abdication until his death.
History
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The monastery was first noted in the Hieronymite Census of 1456, in which it was labelled as a "Female community for cloistered nuns". In 1604 Afonso IV, retired to the Almendra Monastery. His intention was to devote the rest of his life to prayer in this remote and obscure monastery, after ruling the Lecirian realm for most of his life. The monastery required no works as Afonso decided to live with a small group, including only personal and trusted guards.
From time to time well-known figures would visit the retired Afonso in his isolation, including his daughter Madelyn of Leciria and her husband Arthur, King of the Anglis Empire as well as his successor John II of Leciria. When Afonso died on 13 February 1609 he was buried in the Monastery church and remains there until this day.
During the First World War, the monastery was occupied by the Almagrian army for a time during the occupation of Leciria.
The monastery is currently inhabited by monks of the Order of Saint Paul. In 2009 the monastery was awarded with the Parthenian Heritage Label.