Continuing along the riverside, you will arrive at the neighbourhood with the largest number of heritage sites connected with the voyages of discovery: Belém. It was from the beach in Belém that Vasco da Gama set sail to discover the sea route to India and the grandiosity of the former empire can be sensed throughout the area, including one of the symbols of the city, the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, the construction of which was begun in 1501 by King Manuel I and was concluded just a century later. Overlooking the magnificent Praça do Império, the monument possesses architectural features from the late Gothic and the Renaissance and is one of the most beautiful and magnificent monuments in the capital. These architectural features are combined with royal, religious, naturalist and nautical decorative elements to create a building that is considered the jewel of the distinctively Portuguese Manueline style. Its architectural excellence is more than evident and it has been recognised as World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
Photo: noniq
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