Mosteiro dos Jeronimos (Jeronimos Monastery)

King Manuel I commissioned the monastery in 1501, funded by the lucrative 'pepper tax' from Portuguese trade with Africa and the Orient. Construction began on the site of the former Ermida do Restelo chapel, where Vasco da Gama and his crew had prayed before their historic voyage to India. The first master builder, Diogo de Boytac, designed the south portal and established the Manueline style. Joao de Castilho took over in 1517, creating the magnificent cloister and completing the church's vaulting. French sculptor Nicolau Chanterene designed the western portal with its lifelike portraits of King Manuel I and Queen Maria. The monastery served the Order of Saint Jerome until 1833 when religious orders were abolished in Portugal. It survived the 1755 earthquake largely intact due to its solid limestone construction. In the 19th century, the monastery housed the Royal Orphanage and later served various state functions. Extensive restoration in the 20th century returned it to its former glory, and it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

Jeronimos Monastery represents the pinnacle of Portuguese Manueline architecture and symbolizes Portugal's Age of Discoveries, when the nation became a global maritime power. It commemorates the courage and achievements of Portuguese navigators who opened new trade routes and connected distant continents. The monastery is the final resting place of national heroes Vasco da Gama and poet Luis de Camoes, making it a sacred site of Portuguese national identity. Its architectural excellence influenced religious architecture throughout Portugal and its former colonies. Today, it stands as Portugal's most important cultural monument and attracts over one million visitors annually.