Monastery of Jerónimos

Build in the sixteenth century, this monastery close to the river banks has been the burial ground for the royal family for over four centuries. In this monastery dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the monks of the Order of St. Jerome used to pray for the well being of the Portugese king's soul and for the succes of the sailors that discovered the world's seas in his name. It is an excellent example of the Manueline style, a typical crossover between late medieval and early renaissance architecture, even though it was severely redecorated in the nineteenth century. Pay attention to the net vaults and the elegant columns of the Santa Maria monastery church. Most famous is the inner cloister, at the moment beeing renovated. Already declared a National Monument in 1907, it became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984.