The Jerónimos Monastery is inscribed on the World Heritage List of UNESCO, and is therefore regarded by many as “The Monument”, of Portuguese monuments.
This monument is located in one of the most emblematic areas of Lisbon, in a historical and monumental setting, along the Tagus River. Between the Jerónimos Monastery and the river you can also find the Empire Square, from where the great Portuguese navigators departed. It is also here that Belém Tower and the Discoveries Monument have a strong presence.
Commissioned by King Manuel I, after Vasco da Gama returned from his trip to India, it was financed by the profits from the spice trade. Its decorative elements are full of symbols. Thus, the art of navigation, exotic plants and animals are clearly present in the sculptures that decorate the structure.
In fact, this edification represents, more than any other, the romantic spirit and a key piece in the comprehension of the Portuguese soul.
Being above all the most powerful representation of the spirit of the discoveries and the navigators, it is common for visitors to fall in love with this Monastery.
Inside the Monastery
Its monumental interior takes us to another time. Its sparse light and the intricate forms of stonework give us the sensation of an enormous cave, shaken by the waves. The sensation of infinity is overwhelming and the world seems enormous and with so much to discover…
It is here that you can find Vasco da Gama and Luís de Camões, the maximum representatives of the Portuguese maritime epics.
This masterpiece was later connected to a great Portuguese poet – Fernando Pessoa. He was inspired by the symbolism of the Monastery to write one of his best known works – The Message. Today, as the final address of this great poet, the Jerónimos Monastery has been internalized as one of the symbols of the nation.
