Lisbon Airport Transfers

Jeronimos Monastery

Jeronimos Monastery

The Monastery of the Jeronimos is, next to the Tower of Belém, the most important tourist visit of Lisbon. In 1983 it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Its name in Portuguese is Mosteiro dos Jerónimos.

Designed by the architect Diogo de Boitaca, the construction of the Jeronimos Monastery began on January 6, 1501 and was completed at the end of the 16th century. The predominant style of the monastery is the Manueline and was built to celebrate the return of India from Vasco de Gama.

As a curiosity, the location of the monastery was chosen because it was where the Ermida do Restelo, a church where Vasco de Gama and his crew spent some time praying before starting their journey.

Church

The Church of the Monastery of the Jeronimos is totally different from all the churches we have seen so far. Its only ship has six perfectly carved columns that seem to have no end.

The most important sights of the church are the tombs of Vasco de Gama and Luís de Camões.

Cloister

The Cloister of the Monastery of the Jeronimos is even more striking than the one of the Cathedral of Lisbon. Its dimensions and perfection make the difference.

In the tour of the cloister you can visit the church from the top and the tomb of Fernando Pessoa. There is also a room dedicated to the evolution of the monastery, comparing it with the history of Portugal and the world.

Places of interest nearby

In the building next to the monastery is the Museum of Archeology of Lisbon. At a short distance you can visit the Tower of Belém and the Monument to the discoverers, two monuments that next to the Monastery of the Jerónimos represent the most buoyant time of Portugal.