Lisbon - Monastery of Jeronimos
13 May 2000
A tribute to the Age of Discovery, the Monastery of Jeronimos was commissioned in 1501 by Manuel I. The structure is so large that it also houses the National Museum of Archelogy and the Maritime Museum, located in the leftmost part of the building as shown in the first picture above. Also shown above are the south portal, the towers and porch above the west portal, and the west portal itself, which is used as the main entrance.
The interior of the monastery is most known for its high vaulted ceilings supported by elaborately decorated octagonal pillars. The altar is surrounded by artwork, and the interior of the west portal is flanked by the tombs of Vasco da Gama (1469-1524) and Portugal's national poet Luis de Camões (1524-1580), shown above.
Deeper inside the monastery are more tombs, supported by elephants. Above is the empty tomb of King Sebastião, who never returned from battle in 1578. Tombs of Manuel I and his wife Dona Maria and João III and his wife Catarina (not pictured) are also located in the monastery. More pictures of the ceiling and stained glass windows are shown above, with the crucifix in the upper section visible in the second picture from the left.
Created and maintained by Matthew M. Lug (Contact Matthew M. Lug)
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