The Monastery of JerónimosThe Monastery of Jerónimos or Hieronymites monastery is a Portuguese monastery. It was built according to the Manueline style, it is a monumental testimony of the wealth of the Portuguese discoveries over the world.
The monastery is situated at the west of Lisbon, Portugal, in the district of Belém.
The Monastery is composed of a church ( Santa Maria ), a cloister and wings reserved to the lodging of the monks.




The cloister 

 The cloister has an impressive sculptural richness. It has two floors. The lower floor, built by Diogo Boitaca has a decoration inspired by the Gothic and the Renaissance. The upper floor built by João de Castilho, has a less exuberant style.

 One corridor of the cloister has since 1985 the tomb of Fernando Pessoa.

 The chapter house of the monastery now houses the tomb of the writer Alexandre Herculano. 

 The sacristy and the refectory is covered with ribbed vaults and tiercerons.

 Santa Maria church
The South Portal :  the work of Diogo and João de Castilho Boitaca. It presents an abundance of gables, pinnacles and niches welcoming statues. It is crowned by a canopy surmounted by the cross of the Christ's knights. The pier is decorated with the statue of Henry the Navigator and the tympanum is decorated with reliefs relating to the life of St. Jerome.

 The west portal : the work of Nicolas Chanterene, allows access to the cloister of the monastery. It is decorated with beautiful statues, including those of Manuel I and his second wife Mary of Aragon. Above the gate is the scenes of the Annunciation, the Nativity and the Adoration of the Mages. Today the west portal is sheltered by a porch built in the nineteenth century.

 The interior of the nave of the church surprises with the refinement and virtuosity of its vault. The decoration of the pillars and roof were done by João de Castilho, in pure Manueline style. At the entrance of the church, you can see the tombs of Vasco da Gama and Camoens. 

 in 1983 The Monastery of Jerónimos has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage.