Jeronimos Monastery

Why the Jeronimos Monastery is special
This sizable religious complex is a splendid showcase for Portugal's celebrated architectural Manueline style.

It employs a combination of late Gothic, early Renaissance, and Moorish styles. And the sculpting is prolific and (some say) excessively detailed.

Top 3 Jeronimos Monastery attractions
Cloisters
They are artistically sculpted, twin tiered, and sizable (each side measures 55 meters or 180 feet in length).

South Portal
This soaring main entrance to the church is extravagantly decorated with stone sculptures.

Church interior
It's huge and sports a magnificent rib-vaulted ceiling.

Other Jeronimos Monastery attractions
They include • Vasco da Gama's tomb • Royal tombs • The dramatic impact of the site's long and eye-catching front facade.

More Jeronimos Monastery insights
History in brief
Jeronimos Monastery was built to honor Vasco da Gama's Age of Discovery voyages, which brought significant honor and wealth to Portugal. Construction began in 1502 and took most of the century to complete.

When monastic orders were outlawed in Portugal in the 1830s, the St Jerome monks (who had run the place for four centuries) packed their bags.

Today, Jeronimos Monastery is no longer consecrated. It's a public museum.

Worthy nearby attractions
• Belem Tower (a Hillman Wonder medal winner) • National Archaeological Museum • Maritime Museum • Monument of the Discoveries

Location in Portugal