Jeronimos Monastery (Hieronymites Monastery), Lisbon (must see)

The Hieronymites Monastery (otherwise known as the Jerónimos Monastery) was constructed in 1601 to commemorate the historic voyage of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama and to thank the Virgin Mary for his success (he was the first European to travel to India by sea). The monastery took precisely 100 years to complete, upon which it was given to the order of San Jerónimo, whose duty was to pray for the King and give guidance to sailors setting out to discover sea routes and new lands. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Monument in 1983, it remains a symbol of Portugal's might and wealth during the Age of Discovery.

Featuring the finest examples of what came to be known as Manueline style, incorporating many an element vital for the Golden Age of the then fast expanding Portuguese Empire, such as nautical ornaments (ropes, compasses, etc.) carved in the pastel-colored limestone, the amazing double-layered cloister, the ornate arches of the open passageway surrounding the cloister, the Church of Santa Maria with its imposing southern portal crowned by – fittingly – a statue of St Mary, the refectory of the monastery and the Lion Fountain outside of it, and then the tombstone of the Portugal's greatest poets, explorers, kings, and politicians (from Vasco da Gama to Luís de Camões, and from King Manuel I to the leading modernist Fernando Pessoa), all of the above and more most certainly merit a separate visit of at least 2 to 3 hours duration.

Why You Should Visit:
Unexpected beauty for a monastery; you could wander for hours just taking in all the elaborate decoration of the stone. Even with lots of people, it does not feel crowded, and there's an excellent display explaining everything in both PRT/ENG.

Tip:
If you face the main entrance, the queue for tickets is on the LEFT. Better yet, purchase your 'joint' ticket at the Archaeological Museum nearby. It will cost you €2 more but avoids the usually long queue for the 'just the monastery' ticket as well as allowing access to the Archaeological Museum.

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 10am–6:30pm, last entry: 6pm (May–Sep); 10am–5:30pm, last entry: 5pm (Oct–Apr)
Closed: Mondays and January 1st, Easter Sunday, May 1st, June 13th, December 25th