Lisbon (Another day in Belem district) Jeronimos Monastery and Church

Today we decided to go back to Belem and see the inside of Jeronimos Monastery and Church.

The Church

Tomb of Vasco da Gama

The Monastery - The Jeronimos Monastery is the most impressive symbol of Portugal's power and wealth during the Age of Discovery. King Manuel I built it in 1502 on the site of a hermitage founded by Prince Henry the Navigator, where Vasco da Gama and his crew spent their last night in Portugal in prayer before leaving for India. It was built to commemorate Vasco Da Gama's voyage and to give thanks to the Virgin Mary for its success. Vasco da Gama's tomb was placed inside by the entrance, as was the tomb of poet Luis de Camões, author of the epic The Lusiads in which he glorifies the triumphs of Da Gama and his compatriots. Other great figures in Portuguese history are also entombed here, like King Manuel and King Sebastião, and poets Fernando Pessoa and Alexandre Herculano.

The gargoyles are water spouts - the cricket

the cat

Here is also the entrance to the former refectory that has beautiful reticulated vaulting and tile decoration on the walls depicting the Biblical story of Joseph

Joseph in Egypt ) Old Testament)

The cloisters are magnificent, each column differently carved with coils of rope, sea monsters, coral, and other sea motifs evocative of that time of world exploration at sea. 

Ceiling in the exit stairway

Doors to church

Time for lunch.   We went again to Pasteis de Belem.  Lunch was cold pizza and ham and cheese puffed pastry.  Not very good.  The Pasteis de Belem was not a disappointment.  Warm and feather light pastry as usual.