“Humilde e abreviada arquitectura”: os arrábidos e a materialização da Estrita Observância (1542-1698)

The main purpose of this brief article is to contribute to the valorization of the systematically forgotten arrábidos’ architectural heritage, despite its importance for Portuguese history and culture, and despite the existence of academic studies and other monographic works about some of its convents. With this return to a subject we have previously studied, we believe that we are now adding new results of ongoing research, which includes, among others, the classic 'fieldwork' as one of the crucial methods in the perception of the built heritage. As well as the rereading of the Franciscan writings, the basis for the understanding of the arrábidos’ architectural heritage. In the article we deal with Franciscan architecture built from the year 1542, in Portugal, for the Province of Santa Maria da Arrábida, of the Strict Observance. The year 1542 corresponds to the beginning of the construction of its first convents and the year 1698 to the publication of their Statutes. In our study we highlight the five small convents which, with their small scale and stripped architecture, materialised in fact the “Franciscan spirit”. These are the convents of Serra da Arrábida, Serra de Sintra, Évora de Alcobaça, Loures and Verderena. Founded in 1542, 1560, 1566, 1573 and 1591 respectively.