Jeronimos Monastery

4 Reviews

Star Travel Rating

5/5

Review type

Things to do

Location

Date of travel

October, 2017

Product name

Product country

Product city

Travelled with

Husband

Reasons for trip

Even if you’re not a fan of churches, Jerónimos Monastery might well capture your imagination. Belém is one of Lisbon’s most attractive areas, fronting the River Tagus as it widens out into the Atlantic. This stretch of the river provided a safe harbour for shipping, and Santa Maria de Belém church regularly gave sanctuary to seafarers. It was already in a state of disrepair in 1497 when Vasco de Gama and his men spent the night there in prayer, before starting their voyage of discovery to India. Permission was obtained from the Vatican for construction of a monastery to replace it, and in 1501 building began.

It took 100 years till the monastery was complete, in a style that came to be known as Manueline, after King Manuel 1. The architecture is embellished beyond belief with symbols of the sea and nature- knots, anchors, shells, flowers. The king chose the Hieronymites, or order of St. Jerome, to occupy the monastery, and entrusted them with praying for his immortal soul and that of his successors. Funds came originally from the spice trades, but construction ceased with the death of the king in 1521. Several architects and sculptors were involved in the eventual completion of the monastery, which has been granted UNESCO World Heritage status.

The vast, ornate limestone building dominates Belém but it is the two tiered cloisters that truly astound. There are steps up to the second tier and, unless you have severe difficulty with stairs, I would recommend climbing them. Not only do you have unique views down into the central courtyard, and up at gargoyles and heads, but you can overlook the interior of the beautiful church.

Belém is easy to get to, by tram, bus or train from central Lisbon. You can book online, to avoid queuing, and full details are available on the monastery website. More photos from my visit are available on my own website “here.”:https://restlessjo.me/2017/12/21/mosteiro-dos-jeronimos-lisbon/

“Monastery of Jeronimos”:http://www.patrimoniocultural.gov.pt/en/museus-e-monumentos/dgpc/m/mosteiro-dos-jeronimos/

Johanna Bradley

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.