Overshadowed by more popular destinations in nearby countries like France and Spain, it’s sometimes forgotten that the Portuguese capital of Lisbon was once the center of the world. The opulence of the Jerónimos Monastery is a reminder of the city’s former preeminence. Named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the sprawling worship center was built in the early 16th century at the height of Portugal’s Age of Discovery power, and its craftsmanship speaks to the artistic excellence that was harbored by the empire.
Long one of the most beautiful buildings in Western Europe, the monastery is a top tourist attraction in Lisbon. The Manueline architecture of Jerónimos is spellbinding; the cloisters shown in my above video illustrate the extraordinary detail that’s found throughout the structure. While some say an hour or two is sufficient to explore Jerónimos, I would recommend carving out closer to three in order to really appreciate it.
The monastery is around four miles (~7 kms) west of Lisbon’s historic center, which is referred to as the Baixa de Lisboa in Portuguese. It’s open seven days a week from 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. An adult ticket costs $12 EUR (~$13 USD), and entry is free for children 12 and under.
Related Content
– Click to view my high-resolution photo collection from Lisbon.
– Click to read my feature article “Lisbon: A Warning to the Free World” about how the decline of the Portuguese empire provides lessons for the current rules-based world order.
– Click to read my feature article “Carcavelos: Wine of the Legends” to learn how the folks at Villa Oeiras helped save the Carcavelos wine tradition from extinction.