This 16th-century monastery is one of
the few surviving examples of medieval Manueline architecture (named after
Manuel I and featuring naval motifs). Those motifs, carved in stone, include
ropes, fishes, and conches. The south-facing façade, whose main feature
of interest is the portal, is surmounted by a tympanum of carved stone,
including low reliefs showing scenes from the life of St.
Jerome and the royal coat of arms. In the center is a
statue of Prince Henry the Navigator wielding a sword and, at the upper level,
a statue of Our Lady of Belém, covered by a finely carved canopy. The whole of
the portal has the figure of the Archangel Gabriel, Portugal's
guardian angel, at the very top. On the west portal are the statues of Manuel 1st,
St. Jerome, Queen Maria, and St.
John the Baptist. On the keystone of the arch, two
angels support the shield of Portugal.
In the lower section are magnificent representations of the four Evangelists, St.
Vincent, and the Holy Prince, Fernando, the brother of Prince
Henry the Navigator. The church itself contains the final resting places of
Vasco da Gama, the poet Luís de Camões, and many of the
Kings of Portugal descended from Manuel 1st.
Museu Calouste Gulbenkian
The museum contains a treasure trove of art. Half of the
collection consists of pieces from Egypt,
Greece, Roman,
the Orient, and the Islamic world. The other half consists of European art from
the Middle Ages to the modern era.
Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga
This is Portugal’s
national gallery. The collection consists of paintings and sculptures by
Portuguese and other artists dating back to the 12th Century.
Se (Cathedral)
This cathedral was built in the 12th
century by King Alfonso Henriques, Portugal’s first king, Lisbon’s cathedral is primarily Romanesque in style, although later
styles were incorporated when earthquake damage was repaired. The cloister
dates from the 13th century, while the Baroque sacristy houses the remains of
St Anthony, Lisbon’s patron saint, and other treasures. The cathedral also houses
a small museum.