Jerónimos Monastery

Overview

Commissioned by King Manuel I in 1502 to commemorate Vasco da Gama's discovery of the sea route to India, this is the supreme example of Manueline (late Gothic) architecture. Funded by the spice trade and built over a century, its cloisters feature breathtaking stone carvings of maritime motifs — ropes, coral, and shells. Inside lie the tombs of Vasco da Gama and the poet Camões. Listed alongside Belém Tower as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is the centrepiece of the Belém district. Admission about EUR 10 (free Sundays until 14:00). 2-minute walk from Tram 15E or Bus 728 Belém stop.