Lisbon – Church of Santa Maria Belem in the monastery of los Jerónimos
The monastery of Jerónimos in the neighborhood of Belém is the monument of Lisbon where you find the best exponent of the so-called Manueline style architecture.
And during your visit to this monument, the principal of the capital of Portugal, the corner where you can see with splendour the peculiar characteristics of this Portuguese architectural style is undoubtedly in the Church of Santa María of Belem.
Manueline architecture was developed in Portugal during the 16th century, and comes to be a mixture of Gothic and Renaissance, styles with Portuguese mudejar notes.
The result in the Church of the monastery of los Jerónimos is a building of clear Gothic settings, with a Latin cross and plant a large nave divided into three parts of similar height, tall columns and a few roofs decorated with profuse ribs.
The Church of Santa María of Belem began to build in 1514, but renovations have been made until almost the 20th century.
The entrance to the church you have next to the ticket desk of the monastery of Jerónimos, and immediately you called attention to the overloaded decor of each of its architectural elements such as columns, sepulcros…In this regard, emphasizes the cupola roof pelinervado situated in the Centre of the transept of the Church.
However, it will be two large tombs where more you will stop. As you enter the Church, to the right you have the tomb of Luis Camoens, and on the opposite side you can see the tomb of Vasco da Gama.
This Yes, these spectacular tombs of the aforementioned great characters in the history of Portugal were made in the 19th century by the Portuguese sculptor Costa Mota.
During your visit of the Jerónimos Monastery, when you upload to the second floor of the cloister, be sure to enter the stay of the choir of the Church Santa Maria of Belem, where can the above chorus and a good panoramic view of the above-mentioned Temple, as well as details of its ceiling of ribs.