990-1022 - According to tradition, the Monastery of Vila Boa do Bispo was founded by D. Sisnando, the brother of Monio Viegas;

1012 - First reference to the Monasterio S. Mariae Villaebonae;

1022 - Date included in the funerary inscription of D. Monio Viegas and of two of his sons, D. Egas Moniz and D. Gomes Moniz, engraved in a sarcophagus lid found in the cloister of the Monastery of Vila Boa do Bispo;

1120 - Reference to the Monasterium... Villa Noua [sic] episcopi;

1141, February 12th - The Monastery of Vila Boa do Bispo - or, more specifically, the prior D. Egas, his brother D. Monio and his monks -, received the charter of "couto" [place with privileges] granted by King D. Afonso Henriques;

1142 - The bishop of Porto, D. Pedro Rabaldis (1138-1145) visits the chapel where D. Sisnando was buried; later, he would have his tomb transferred to the Monastery of Vila Boa [do Bispo];

1143 - There are already reports of the presence of the Canons Regular of St. Augustine in Vila Boa do Bispo;

1144 - In the Papal Brief of Pope Lucius II (1144-1145), the priors of the Monastery were allowed to use a mitre;

1153 - In the Bull of Pope Anastasius IV (1153-1154), the priors were also distinguished with the permit to use a crosier;

12th-13th centuries - Chronology of the remaining Romanesque elements of Vila Boa do Bispo;

1297 - Pope Boniface VIII (1294-1303) made an explicit confirmation of the Rule of Saint Augustine in the Monastery of Vila Boa do Bispo;

13th Century - The Monastery of Vila Boa do Bispo held many farmhouses and patronages in several parishes of the region;

14th century - Design of the tomb of D. Salvado Pires;

1320 - The Monastery of Vila Boa do Bispo pays a tax of 1500 Portuguese libras;

1348, November 25th - Inscription engraved on the tomb of D. Nicolau Martins, the Monastery's prior;

1362 - After this date, the tombs of D. Júrio Geraldes and D. Nicolau Martins were commissioned by the former to the same workshop;

1381, January 30th - Funeral inscription engraved in the lateral section of the lid of the tomb of D. Júrio Geraldes, Chief Magistrate of King D. Fernando (1387-1383) for the region of Entre-Douro-e-Minho;

1475 - The presentation of commendatory abbots in Vila Boa do Bispo begins;

16th century (mid) - The presentation of commendatory abbot ends, with D. Miguel de Almeida;

1593 - The Monastery of Vila Boa do Bispo is integrated in the Congregation of the Holy Cross in Coimbra;

1599-1686 - Earliest and latest dates of the various cartouches placed inside the building, which offer evidence of the great transformation it underwent during the Modern Period;

1605 - Renovation of the Monastery of Vila Boa do Bispo;

17th century (2nd half) - Transformation of the Romanesque building of Vila Boa do Bispo;

1650-60 - Tiling of the baptistery;

1686 - Possible construction of the sacristy, purposely opening an access door to the chancel, duly identified over the jamb;

18th century (1st half) - Chronology of the Baroque intervention in the Church's interior, based on existing stylistic elements;

1727 - Date engraved in the sacristy washbasin;

1740 - Tiling of the chancel;

1758 - According to the information provided by the "Memórias Paroquiais" [Parish Memorandum], the building of Vila Boa do Bispo would have already had an identical look to the one we currently see;

1882-1888 - Disassembling and reconstruction of the tower;

1886 November 16th - Project for an interior staircase surrounding the walls of the tower;

1977 - Classification of the Church (and tombs) as National Monument; classification of the area of the former Monastery as Public Interest Building;

1997 (onwards) - Restoration of plaster coatings on the Church's internal and external walls;

2010 - The Monastery of Vila Boa do Bispo becomes part of the Route of the Romanesque's complex of monuments;

2012 - Conservation intervention on the chancel's vault, revealing a 17th-century mural painting, after the removal of the existing coffered ceiling.

Saint Mary - 15th August

Sunday - 11:30 am

Monument not accessible to visitors with reduced mobility.