Few places in Lisbon are as closely connected to Portugal's Age of Discovery as the Jerónimos Monastery.
Commissioned by King Manuel I, construction began in 1501, near the small chapel where Vasco da Gama is believed to have prayed before departing on his voyage to India. The monastery was entrusted to the monks of the Order of Saint Jerome, who prayed for the King and for the Portuguese sailors leaving from Belém.
The Jerónimos Monastery is considered the finest example of Manueline architecture, a uniquely Portuguese style that combines Late Gothic design with symbols inspired by the sea and the Age of Discovery. Look closely and you'll spot carved ropes, armillary spheres, the Cross of the Order of Christ, shells and other maritime details worked into the stone.
Construction took around 100 years, with several architects contributing to the monument, including Diogo de Boitaca, João de Castilho, Diogo de Torralva and Jerónimo de Ruão.
In 1983, the Jerónimos Monastery, together with the nearby Belém Tower, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognising its outstanding importance to Portugal's history and world heritage.
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