Chapter Room
The Chapter Hall, Manueline in style, built by Diogo de Boitaca (1507-1513) was the place where the friars gathered in assembly to take the most important decisions of conventual life. The tiles decorating the room also date from the 16th century.
At the head of the Chapter Hall is the beautiful chapel of São Theotonius, of Mannerist architecture by Tomé Velho (dated around 1588), topped by a large arch and built to house the Tomb of São Theotonius.
In this space we can find the images of Saint Theotonius and the 4 evangelists (Saint Matthew, Saint Mark, Saint John, and Saint Luke). The chapel functions as a kind of main chapel of the Chapter Hall, "sacralising" the two separate spaces, that however are united by the great triumphal arch, built in the 17th century.
There are still two more tombs in this Chapel, that of Dom Telo (one of the founders of the monastery, who died in 1136 and was transferred to this place in 1630) and of Dom João Theotonius (second Prior of the monastery, who died in 1181, and was S. Theotonius's nephew, also transferred to this chapel in 1630).
It is still possible to see the benches with their respective backs, where the friars used to sit to discuss and make important decisions. The paintings that we find here and that adorn the room are by the Augustinian friars.
In this room, as in other parts of the monastery, there is also a formal agreement between the roof and the pavement, communicating a kind of cosmic harmony between heaven and earth.