The Jerónimos Monastery ( Portuguese: Mosteiro dos Jerónimos) in Lisbon is an must-see wonder, one of the most grand symbols of Portugal’s power and wealth during the Age of Discovery. Built in 1502 on the site of a religious retreat establish by Prince Henry the Navigator, where Vasco da Gama and his crew spent their last night in Portugal in prayer before leaving for India. The riches from Vasco da Gama’s discoveries, poured into Lisbon and funded the construction of this magnificent World Heritage Site.
When you first enter through the churchs western entrance, you’ll immediately notice tree-like columns that seem to grow into the ceiling, which becomes a spiderweb of stone. The windows illuminate the churches interior with soft golden light. Vasco da Gama’s tomb is found in the church at its lower chancel, just left of the entrance, another tomb honored poet Luís Vaz de Camões. There are other Portuguese historical figures entombed here, King Sebastião, King Manuel who commissioned the monastery building, poet Fernando Pessoa, and Alexandre Herculano. The cloisters are magnificently carved, each column differently with coral, sea monsters, leaves, vines and ropes which are unlike any other in the world.
Mosteiro dos Jerónimos