Lisbon MonumentsA Guide to the Beautiful Monuments of Lisbon
Lisbon Monuments - JERONIMUS MONASTERY is one of the most beautiful monuments of Lisbon in a lovely part of town with parks and restaurants.
They can be found all over the city but principally in three areas, Belem, The Alfama, and Baixa Chiado area.
Lisbon Monuments Belem AreaBelem is the principal area in the city for Lisbon Monuments. If you have entered the city by boat you will have already encountered Jeronimus Monastery, Belem Tower and The Monument to the Discoveries. Jeronimus dominates Belem, once on the waterfront it is now positioned behind gardens and fountains.The Original Church on the side of the river was dedicated to Mary of Bethlehem and so the area became known as Belem which is Bethlehem in Portuguese. Vasco da Gama the greatest of all Portuguese explorers set sail from here and found the sea route to India on a harrowing voyage. Delighted with the return of Vasco, Henry the Navigator decided to build the a hermitage in thanks on the site.It was Don Manuel who gave orders for the building we see today.The style was Gothic but with special touches which became known as Manueline after the king. The first architect was Boitac but he was followed by Joao de Castilho and Diogo de Torralva who were responsible for the more ornate style of the building.The cost of Jeronimus was met from taxes on spices and precious stones from India.
Detail of Jeronimus showing features of the gentle Portuguese Manueline Style.
In the 18th century the monks of Belem were running low on cash and decided to earn money selling little pastries filled with sweet egg custard. Known as Pasteis de Belem they have been another attraction of the area ever since. The Belem Tower
" The Tower seen from the outside is a magnificent stone jewel, and it is with astonishment and a growing appreciation that the stranger beholds its peculiar beauty " Fernando Pessoa
The Tower was built in the 16th Century in Manueline style. It once sat in the river connected by a bridge. There are Moorish features in the exotic imaginative carvings which adorn the walls. It was built to protect Lisbon from the sea but seems too gentle to have ever been a fortress. There are five stories which house various Lisbon treasures.
Lisbon-Monuments The Discoveries
A little further inland from the Tower of Belem is the monument to the Discoveries. Built to mark the 500th aniversary of the birth of Henry the Navigator. It is shaped like a prow of a ship and is meant to symbolise the pioneering spirit of the sailors who left Belem to find new worlds. Henry leans out from the monument with a ship in his hand and many great Portuguese Sailors are carved in stone around him supporting his vision.Views from the top of the monument are magnificent and tired travelers will be happy to know there is a lift !
Lisbon Monuments The AlfamaThe Alfama. Almost a monument itself, the part of Lisbon least destroyed in the Earthquake of 1755 - a maze of wonder - full of atmosphere and history.There are tiny alleys with restaurants and bars, museums, music venues and some great Lisbon Monuments. The Castle, The Cathedral, The San Vincent da Fora Church and The National Pantheon. Part of the city skyline. Essential Lisbon. 
The Churches of San Vincent da Fora, San Esteban and Santa Engracia - The National Pantheon, in the May sunlight. This Photo was taken from Cacilhas on the opposite bank of the Tagus. Lisbon Monuments -The Castle
The heart of the original Lisbon, The Castle of St George looks down upon modern Lisbon with a tranquil serenity. Once the scene of battles, particularly when the Crusaders pushed back the Moors in the 12th Century, it is now mostly a quiet sweet smelling garden with the ancient walls completing the atmosphere. When I first came to Lisbon 25 years ago, you just walked into the Castle, as if it was a local park. Nowadays, there are Visitors Centers, Restaurants, Gift Shops and all kinds of Tourist Information.Still it is still pretty low key, especially out of high season. Everyday life goes on just outside the walls as if nothing had happened in hundreds of years.The Castle gardens are a shaded oasis on a warm day and views from the castle walls to Rossio and the Barrio Alto are magnificent. 
The Castle - An Historical Monument and a lovely place to relax high above the city.
Lisbon Monuments -The Cathedral
Built on the site of an older temple Lisbon Cathedral was constructed after the reconquest of the city in the twelfth century for the new bishop Gilbert of Hastings.Reflecting the turbulent times of it's conception it looks more like a fortress than a Church. It was the scene of more violence when a bishop was thrown from a tower here in 1388. It is said that St Anthony, Lisbon's most beloved Saint, was baptized here in 1195.The church was badly damaged in the quakes of 1337 and 1755 In 1755 churches were full on All Souls Morning- a terrifying nightmare for the population. Inside the Cathedral is a cornucopia of religious objects. The Custodia de Se is famous for the amount of gold in it's construction.The next door Church of St Anthony is also worth a visit.
Lisbon Churches
S. Vincent da ForaThe magnificent Lisbon Monument San Vincent da Fora once outside the walls of the city was home to a large religious community. Built in the Mannerist Post-Renaissance style, it shines white on the Lisbon skyline demanding attention. The church is grandiose and magnificent, but it is the quiet cloisters which I found even more impressive. These somewhat run down gardens are surrounded by the most wonderful decorative tiles portraying all aspects of 18th Century Life and the upper floors house an amazing collection of tiles depicting the fables of La Fontaine. At first whimsical, gradually they reveal a sharp perception of human folly. Definitely not to be missed. There are also the tombs of the Kings of Portugal in a somber Pantheon including the assassinated King Dom Manuel.
Lisbon Monuments - S. Engracia National PantheonThe Church of Santa Engracia was almost a Lisbon folly. Begun in 1682 the cupola was only added in 1966. It is a magnificent building of daunting proportions in the shape of a Greek Cross.It is now the home of some of the greats of Portuguese History, ranging through many walks of Life from Generals to Poets. Fado lovers head for the tomb of the Queen of singers Amalia Rodrigues who is housed among Poets and Social Reformers in room one.A little further along is the tomb of General Humberto Delgado who defied the Dictator Salazar stood for election against him, and was cruelly murdered by his secret agents.If you want to know more of Portuguese History, The Pantheon is a great place to learn, and it is one of the Lisbon Monuments in its own right. Visiting the Roof Galleries above the Pantheon leads to magnificent views of the city and port, but a walk around the upper gallery looking down into the church is not for the faint hearted.
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