Jerónimos Monastery

The Mosteiro dos Jerónimos is Lisbon’s most prominent historical landmark. The church and a cloister adjacent to it were commissioned by King Manuel I in 1502, to commemorate Vasco Da Gama's successful sea voyage to India. The Portuguese gothic masterpiece took almost 100 years to complete, with the assistance from renowned Portuguese and French architects. The monastery was dedicated to the Order of Saint Jerome (Hieronymites), who prayed for the King’s soul and offered spiritual guidance to the sailors who would depart for distant shores. The intricately carved stone work around the cloister is inspired from nautical elements that use chains, ropes, spheres and anchors in building decorations. This rich decoration came to be known as Manueline style of architecture. The interior of church is worth visiting for elaborate ornamentation including statues of apostles, prophets and angels. The columns which fan out to create a ceiling display an architectural genius of Diogo de Boticas. The church has been the resting place of Spanish royalty and other famous personalities. You can find tombs of King Manuel I, King John III and his queen as well as a star sailor Vasco Da Gama and a well known poet Luís de Camões. Take a tour of the grand monastery and admire the unique architectural style. Do not forget to visit the Maritime Museum, which highlights Portugal's rich maritime history!