Introduction
The Jerónimos Monastery is located in the Belém quarter in Lisbon.
The construction started in 1502 by order of King Manuel, to serve as his family’s pantheon, and lasted for about 100 years.
It is considered the most beautiful and important construction in Manueline style. As the name suggests it was created during King Manuel’s reign and it is connected to the Portuguese Age of Discoveries by the use of maritime and vegetalist motifs.
The monastery was kept by Hyeronimite Monks (Monges Jeronimos) from the order of Saint Jerome.
South Portal
A guided tour usually starts at the beautiful Jeronimos south portal (the one facing the Tagus River) is thoroughly decorated with vegetalist motifs and statues like the ones of the 12 apostles, Henry the Navigator above the two doors, Our Lady of Belém and St. Michael the Archangel at the top.
West Portal
The West portal is the entrance to the church, it is decorated with two statues:
King Manuel on the left with Saint Jerome his Patron Saint.
On the right, Queen Mary with her patron Saint John the Baptist.
Inside the Church
You enter the Jeronimos Church through the Low Choire where you can see the Chapel of “Nosso Senhor dos Passos” on the left, decorated with gilt carved wood and paintings with symbols of Christ’s martyrdom.
The Baptismal Chapel is on the right, inside you can see a statue of St. Anthony and the baptismal font decorated with vegetalist motifs in the centre.
Next to the baptismal chapel you will find the tomb of Luis Vaz de Camões, the most important Portuguese poet of all times and the father of the Portuguese language.
In the opposite side is the tomb of Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese navigator who found the sea route from Europe to India in 1498.
Now in one of the Jeronimos Church three vessels you will be able to see the beautiful complex net vaulting that withstood the 1755 Lisbon earthquake.
Transept
In the left arm of the transept you can find the tombs of Cardenal Henrique (in the centre) and the ones of King Manuel’s family.
In the right arm there are the tombs of King John the 3rd’s family and in the centre the symbolic tomb of King Sebastian.
Main Chapel
The Manerist Main Chapel of the Jeronimos Monastery is decorated with a silver tabernacle from the 17th century and paintings with scenes from the Passion of Christ and the worship of the Three Wise Men. Here you will also find the tombs of K. Manuel and Q. Maria on the left, and the tombs of K. John the 3rd and Q. Catherine on the right.
