Patrimonialization of the Tibães’ monastery (1834-2024)

Abstract

The Monastery of São Martinho de Tibães exemplifies the reality of monastic heritage within a national context, considering the extinction of religious orders, the subsequent nationalisation of assets, and the process of recognising these complexes as monuments. This heritage status is the result of the recognition of its historical, artistic and antiquity values, e.g., and the institutionalisation of the State's duty to protect it, culminating, in this case, in its (re)acquisition by the State and its conversion into a museum. The objective of this study is to analyse the historical management of the monastery of Tibães, encompassing the various types of administration, the means employed for safeguarding the monastery, and its allocation for diverse purposes. To protect it, administrative procedures are activated, such as classification, the establishment of protection zones and the need for prior approval of any changes to the property, whether architectural interventions or changes of use. The Portuguese heritage policies will therefore be analysed through the statutes of the responsible authorities and the national legal framework. In addition, considering the uses of heritage and changes in ownership, will be considered the various owners and means of property transfer, as well as the various interventions conducted, which will allow for a comprehensive understanding of the competences in the management of spaces between 1834 and 2024.