Jeronimos Monastery

The Jeronimos Monastery is the masterpiece of the Manueline style, a vast monastery in the Belem district of Lisbon, built in the sixteenth century with wealth from the spice trade. Its soaring church and, above all, its exquisitely carved two-storey cloister, dripping with maritime and botanical stone ornament, are a UNESCO wonder, and it holds the tombs of the poet Camoes and the explorer Vasco da Gama.

History

The monastery replaced a church of Santa Maria de Belém where monks of the Order of Christ cared for seafarers at the sheltered anchorage of Praia do Restelo; this hermitage, already in disrepair, is where Vasco da Gama and his men spent the night in prayer before sailing for India in 1497. Manuel I ordered it at the cortes of Montemor-o-Velho in 1495 as a final resting place for the House of Aviz, and in 1496 he asked the Holy See for leave to build a monastery; it rose in the early 1500s, paid for by a tax on the profits of the yearly India armadas, and in the 16th century it became the dynasty's necropolis. It was secularised by decree on 28 December 1833 and handed to the Real Casa Pia de Lisboa charity, and in 1880 the remains of Vasco da Gama and of the poet Luís de Camões, who had celebrated his first voyage in The Lusiads of 1572, were moved to new carved tombs in the nave (Wikipedia, Jerónimos Monastery).

What to look for

• The carved cloister - the exquisite two-storey cloister of intricate stonework.
• The church - the soaring vaulted nave on slender carved columns.
• The tombs - the resting places of Vasco da Gama and the poet Camoes.
• The Manueline detail - the maritime and botanical carving throughout.

When to go

Spring and autumn for mild weather; summer is hot and the queues long. The church is free, but the famous cloister charges and queues, so go early. Combine with the Belem Tower nearby.

What to expect

The church is free but the star cloister charges and queues can be very long, so arrive early or book. It sits out in Belem, away from the centre. The intricate stonework is the draw rather than a large interior to explore.

Nearby

The Belem Tower and the Pasteis de Belem bakery are a short walk; central Lisbon is a tram ride.

Key facts