ABSTRACT
This chapter proposes a summary of the main aspects of Isabel's, Princess of Aragon and wife of King Denis of Portugal, public and private life, with special emphasis on those that show her as a woman of devotion, charity and pilgrimage. She is the best known and most popularly venerated of all the queens consort of Portugal, due to the aura of holiness that has always surrounded her and that has heightened by legend and tradition. The different facets of her life as a woman and mother, royal princess, queen and queen mother, were almost always interpreted in the light of this aura of holiness which characterized her from birth. Thus, all her actions tended to explained and interpreted as the result of her deep sense of religion and faith, expressed through her permanent demonstration of selflessness, sacrifice and charity. Queen Isabel was also responsible for setting up and supporting several welfare institutions such as lazar houses, hospitals and shelters.
