Jeronimos in Lisbon is a richly decorated monastery located in the Belem district in the western part of the city. This grand religious building has historically been associated with sailors and explorers, since it was here that Vasco da Gama spent his last night before traveling to the Far East.
For visitors, this monastery is one of the most decorative churches in Portugal. The south entrance is limited by a 32-meter stone portal where you can see the carvings of the faces of the saints, peaks of complex shape and other decorative elements. Inside, spindle-shaped columns support massive vaulted ceilings. Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon is rightfully one of the most popular tourist attractions in Portugal.
Interesting facts about the Lisbon Monastery
The sailors of that era were extremely superstitious, and the importance of the church increased when they prayed with the monks in the hope of a safe return. While gold and wealth began to flow into the city amid the spice trade, the money was used to finance the extravagant construction work of the Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon.
The architect Juan de Castillo was able to develop an idea and methods that did not correspond to ordinary time. Zheronimush is the only monastery of the era built around a two-tier monastery. Its well-groomed carved front door can rival any of the classic great cathedrals.
After the initial construction of the monastery, King Manuel I chose the Order of Hieronymity Monks to live in the complex. They guaranteed spiritual protection to the king after his death, and then established a close spiritual connection with the sailors. The Order of the Jeronimites was dedicated to St. Jerome, hence the name of the monastery. He was a V century scholar who translated the original Bible into Latin.
It was originally planned to build a monastery in 8 years, but since the import tax on colonies of 5% brought more wealth, this time increased. The monastery was finally opened by Philip II, the Spanish ruler of the Iberian Union, in 1604, almost 100 years after the foundation was laid.
When the monastery was originally built, it was located on the banks of the Tagus River and overlooked the Belem docks. Today, the water's edge is 300 m to the south than 500 years ago, and provides a place for the beautiful gardens of Praça do Imperio (Empire Square).
Thanks to the thoughtful technical design of the small columns that support the roof, the monastery withstood the devastating earthquake of 1755. Most of Lisbon's large buildings collapsed, while Jeronimoš received only minor damage. The monastery was destroyed during the abolition of religious orders caused by the long invasion of Napoleon, and the entire church complex, although it survived an earthquake, almost collapsed. In 1983, Jeronimoš in Lisbon became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is currently one of the main tourist attractions of the city.
Visit to the monastery
The opening hours of Jeronimos in Lisbon are from 10:00 to 18:00 in the summer and from 10:00 to 17:00 in the winter, but on Mondays the monastery is closed to visitors. It is better to come here in the early morning or, conversely, in the evening to avoid tourist groups. Entrance to the main chapel is free, while admission to the monastery is 7 euros, and children under 14 years old are free. A combination admission to the convent and the castle of Torri di Belem can be purchased for 13 euros. For budget travelers, Jeronimos can be visited on Sunday morning. The monastery is located in the Belem district of Lisbon, west of the city center.
How to get from the center of Lisbon to Belem
Located about 9 km from the center of Lisbon, Belem is a coastal area where the best monuments of the city and museums are located.
The main attractions include not only the monastery, but also the peculiar Belen tower. But there are other interesting sights in the vicinity, and it is important to know how to get to the Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon.
By tram
Unlike historical tram 28, which runs along the steep hills of Lisbon, tram 15 (aka 15E, where “E” stands for Eléctrico, “tram”) runs on the flat territory of the city from Da Figueira Square in Baixa to Belem and further to Alge out of city. Usually on a modern light rail, the ride can be on an old cable car.
Tram 15 (or 15E) leaves from Da Figueira Square, next to Rossio, with stops at Terreiro do Paso and Cais do Sodre on the way to Belen. Tourists who are interested in how to get to Jeronimos in Lisbon can take the tram to Alges (Jardim), which runs regularly (every 10-15 minutes). It takes about 25 minutes to get from Da Figueira Square to Belem. You need to get off at the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos stop or after 2 stops at Largo da Princesa, closer to the Belém Tower, and then walk 5 minutes to the Tagus River.
For travel, you can use the Viva Viagem card or buy a ticket on the tram, but it will cost more.
And as usual in crowded transport, you need to keep track of your belongings in order to avoid pickpockets both in tram 15 and in lines at any of the main stops - Praça da Figueira, Terreiro do Paço (Praça do Comércio) and Cais do Sodré.
Train to Belen
A local train to Cascais is another option on how to get to Jeronimos. You can catch a train from Cais do Sodré station to Belém station, which is three stops away.
Belen Station is halfway between the IAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology) and the Bus Museum. Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon is less than a 10-minute walk. You can also use the Viva Viagem card when traveling on the Cascais train.
By bus
A bus ride is the third option to get to Belem. If you choose the “Yellow Bus” service, you can go on a tour of Tahoe, which starts from Dagueira Square, and visit several tourist places, including Belen.
An alternative is the Red Bus, which leaves from Marques de Pombal Square. He also visits the attractions of Belem, namely the Museum of Electricity, the Monument to the Discoveries, the Belen Tower, the Monastery and the Belen Palace.
What to see in the Jeronimos Monastery
Built in the late 1400s, the monastery is an excellent example of Manuelino's architectural style, inspired by discoveries. Visiting Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon, you can take advantage of tips on what to see there to enjoy the visit as best as possible.
Visiting the Jeronimos Monastery, you should see the tomb of Vasco da Gama. Vasco da Gama is a world famous navigator who played a very important role in history during the discovery period. He opened the sea route from Lisbon to India. After that, the Portuguese were able for centuries to have a monopoly on the trade in spices and materials in Europe. His grave is in the monastery, in the church of St. Mary.
A visit to the monastery is a search for symbols of discoveries. The entire monument was built in the style of Manuelino, directly related to the era of discoveries: from ship ropes to algae, floating spheres, rope knots, armillary spheres. These symbols show in abundance the strength and knowledge of the Portuguese sailors and the Portuguese empire.
- Poets, writers and presidents.
In the Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon, tourists will find several important figures of Portuguese history whose remains were transported to the monastery: presidents Theofilo Braga and Oscar Carmona, as well as screenwriter Almeida Garrett and modern poet Fernando Pessoa. In the church you can find Luis de Camoes, a 16th-century poet who immortalized the era of discovery and the courage of the Portuguese in his poem Os Lusíadas.
South entrance to St. Mary's Church
It is also worth taking a moment to appreciate the southern entrance to St. Mary's Church. Visitors will be delighted with the amazing detail and excellent work on this door. Full of marine motifs of the Manuelino style and statues of St. Jerome and the Bethlehem Virgin Mary, these are the most beautiful portals of the monastery.
Built between 1516 and 1518 by Juan de Castillo and his working group on the project of Diogo de Boytaki, the South Portal is the visual center of the facade of the monastery facing the Tagus River. However, despite its luxurious details, this is just a side entrance. The central figure on the portal is the Virgin of Bethlehem (Belém in Portuguese) with the Baby. The church and monastery are dedicated to Our Lady. She holds in her hand a cup with gifts from the Magi. The Virgin is surrounded by many statues representing prophets, apostles, church leaders and some saints. The tympanum depicts two scenes from the life of St. Jerome. In the bosom between these scenes is the coat of arms of Manuel I. Even lower, between the two doors of the church, is a statue depicting Henry the Navigator as a knight in armor, a tribute to this predecessor of Manuel I, who founded the Restelo Chapel and was the driving force behind the discoveries of Portugal. Dominant in the whole composition is the statue of the Archangel Michael at the very top.