The Jeronimos Monastery in Belem, Portugal is one of the most beautiful monasteries that I have visited around the world. It is a fascinating depiction of Portugal’s Manueline style of architecture inspired by sea voyages, maritime adventures, and Portugal’s navigation prowess.
For a very long time, Jeronimos was home to monks of the Hieronymite order. They provided assistance to Portuguese explorers who embarked on their world journeys from here. It is believed that Vasco da Gama spent his last night here before starting on his expedition to discover the Orient. Jeronimos is not a living monastery anymore but has played an important role in shaping Portuguese history.
Today, the Jeronimos Monastery stands as a proud representation of Portugal’s Age of Discoveries. No doubt, the monastery along with the Belem Tower was inscribed into the UNESCO Heritage list in 1983. Jeronimos also houses the tomb of Vasco da Gama, a major tourist attraction in Lisbon. It is also interesting to note that the famous Portuguese dessert, Pasteis de Nata, was invented by monks of the Jeronimos Monastery. The recipe remains a top-secret, even today!
