Description of the attraction
Belém, one of the oldest suburbs of the capital, stood out from the rich port of Restello, which played a significant role in the history of Portuguese navigation. At the beginning of the 16th century, under Manuel I, the first stone of the monastery was laid, and construction work began in 1517. This is one of the outstanding architectural structures in the Manueline style.
The most notable part is the southern portal with cut ornaments created by the masters Boitac and Juan di Castillo. The statue near the middle pillar, at the foot of which the stone lions from the legend of Blessed Jerome are gnawing, reminds of the Portuguese prince Henry the Navigator. The intricate sculptures of the western portal by Nicolas Chantheren represent Mary of Castile, second wife of Manuel I, and John the Baptist. On the left side, the monarch himself is immortalized with his patron saint - St. Jerome. The netted vault, designed by João di Castillo, withstood even the earthquake of 1755, but the tent of the monastery church collapsed, and in the 19th century, in violation of the style, it was crowned with a dome. Inside are the tombs of Vasco da Gama and the poet Camões, author of the famous poem Louisiada.
The covered gallery of the cloister's courtyard was designed by João di Castillo and attested in 1544. Its arches and balustrade, executed in the Manueline style, are decorated with delicate designs and lush carvings.
