Saint Jerome Monastery

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The Mosteiro dos Jerónimos is a UNESCO World Heritage site that can also be referred to as the Monastery of St. Jerome or the Jerónimos Monastery. It can be found in the Belém neighbourhood of Lisbon.

The Chapel of St. Jerome and the tombs, which contain notable people from Portuguese history such as a handful of royals and Vasco da Gama himself, are also available for tourists to visit during their time in the city.

Things to do at Saint Jerome Monastery:

Embrace the architecture of the site:

The monastery, which exemplifies Portugal's Manueline style of architecture, was constructed during the Age of Discoveries to honour the explorer Vasco da Gama. He and his crew spent their final night in Portugal at the location before setting out on their famous journey to India in 1498. The style is characterised by a high level of ornate decoration and was named after the king of the time, Manuel I.

Learn about the various purposes served by the location:

In order to celebrate Vasco da Gama's safe return from India, the Portuguese architect Diogo de Boitaca conceived of the idea for the sacred structure that we see today. The first stone was laid on January 6, 1501, and the structure wasn't finished being built until the seventeenth century.

The chapel known as Ermida do Restelo, in which Vasco da Gama and the other sailors prayed prior to setting sail down the African coast to India, was built on the site that is now occupied by the monastery. This is an intriguing fact.

Today, guests are welcome to roam the grounds at their own leisure while taking in the intricate carvings that adorn the cloisters, pillars, and vaulted ceilings.

Delve in the beauty of the Church of Santa Maria:

It deviates wildly from everything else in every respect. The church appears to stretch on indefinitely, and it is organised around a single nave that is supported by six columns with intricately sculpted capitals.

The tombs of the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama and the poet and writer Luis de Cames are located inside the church.

Take a tour of the cloister at Jerónimos Monastery, which spans two stories, is even more breathtaking:

It is much bigger, and the ornamentation, symbolism, and decorative flourishes all over it are stunning. While you are exploring the cloister, you will have a view of the church of Santa Maria from above as well as the tomb of Fernando Pessoa, who was a well-known poet and writer from Portugal. One of the halls inside the cloister is devoted to the history of the Monastery, which is discussed in relation to the development of both the nation and the rest of the world.

Explore the local points of interest:

Following your tour of the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, we suggest that you pay a visit to the Archaeology Museum, which can be found in the structure that is directly adjacent to the monastery. In addition, the Belém Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries can be found in the neighbourhood. The Jerónimos Monastery, along with these two monuments, is an excellent representation of Portugal during its most prosperous period and should not be missed.

  • imageDuration Required
    2 hours

Address of Saint Jerome Monastery

Calle del Rector Lopez Argueta 9, 18001 Granada Spain

Opening & Closing time of Saint Jerome Monastery

  • Monday
    10:00-18:00
  • Tuesday
    10:00-18:00
  • Wednesday
    10:00-18:00
  • Thursday
    10:00-18:00
  • Friday
    10:00-18:00
  • Saturday
    10:00-18:00
  • Sunday
    10:00-18:00

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