Jeronimos Monastery in Belém, Lisbon, Portugal
One of the most important UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Belém area of Lisbon, capital of Portugal, is the Jerónimos Monastery.
It was built in the amazing beautiful Portuguese Late Gothic Manueline style of architecture.
Some royal history
On 6 January 1501 the construction of the monastery and the church started, 100 years later it was completed.
King Manuel originally funded the project with moneys of the commerce from Africa and the Orient.
It was King Manuel himself who selected the religious order of the Hieronymite monks to occupy the monastery, whose role it was to pray for the King's eternal soul and to provide spiritual assistance to navigators and sailors who departed from the port of Restelo to discover the world.
On 16 July 1604, Philip of Spain (he ruled of Portugal after the Iberian Union) made the monastery a royal funerary monument. He prohibited anyone but the royal family and the Hieronymite monks from entering the building. In 1640, Portugal became independent again.
In 1755 the monastery withstood the Lisbon earthquake without much damage. On 28 December 1833, the Jerónimos Monastery was secularized by state decree. After 1860, restoration work began.
The monastery symbolizes the Portuguese Age of Discovery.
On 13 December 2007, the Treaty of Lisbon was signed at the monastery, laying down the basis for the reform of the European Union.
To see some pictures about the signing of the Treaty of Lisbon, check this link.
own pictures taken in March 2017
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| Jerónimos Monastery in Belém Lisbon Portugal |
It was built in the amazing beautiful Portuguese Late Gothic Manueline style of architecture.
Some royal history
On 6 January 1501 the construction of the monastery and the church started, 100 years later it was completed.
King Manuel originally funded the project with moneys of the commerce from Africa and the Orient.
 |
| Jerónimos Monastery in Belém, Lisbon, Portugal |
On 16 July 1604, Philip of Spain (he ruled of Portugal after the Iberian Union) made the monastery a royal funerary monument. He prohibited anyone but the royal family and the Hieronymite monks from entering the building. In 1640, Portugal became independent again.
 |
| Jerónimos Monastery in Belém Lisbon Portugal |
In 1755 the monastery withstood the Lisbon earthquake without much damage. On 28 December 1833, the Jerónimos Monastery was secularized by state decree. After 1860, restoration work began.
 |
| Inside the Monastery |
The monastery symbolizes the Portuguese Age of Discovery.
On 13 December 2007, the Treaty of Lisbon was signed at the monastery, laying down the basis for the reform of the European Union.
 |
| Jerónimos Monastery - inside - Belém, Portugal |
To see some pictures about the signing of the Treaty of Lisbon, check this link.
own pictures taken in March 2017
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