Spain and Portugal for Visitors

The overwhelming Portuguese victory at Battle of Albujarrota in 1385 was decisive in establishing the independence of Portugal from the Kingdom of Castile (not Spain, which would not come into existence until more than a century later) and stabilizing the reign of King João I, illegitimate son of King Ferdinand I and generally preferred to his legitimate sister Beatrice, less because of sexism than because her husband was precisely the King of Castile. João ordered the Monastery of Santa Maria da Vitória na Batalha built in acknowledgement of divine assistance, and the town around became called simply "Batalha." The town today is not particularly interesting, but the Abbey is considered "the supreme achievement of Portuguese architecture," even though unfinished, and is correspondingly popular with visitors. The link goes to its Portuguese-only municipal website.

The World Heritage listing for the monastery.