Monastery of the Hieronymites
and Tower of Belém in Lisbon (1983)
Portugal
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Standing at the entrance to Lisbon harbour, the Monastery of
the Hieronymites – construction of which began in 1502 –
exemplifies Portuguese art at its best. The nearby Tower of Belém,
built to commemorate Vasco da Gama's expedition, is a reminder
of the great maritime discoveries that laid the foundations of
the modern world.
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The Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and the Torre de Belém are
the supreme architectural representatives of a period in which the
Portuguese nation played a leading role, expanding the horizons of both
Europe and the world.
They were erected symbolically in Belém, which, in the
sixteenth century, was the site of the port from which the caravels and
other large ships set sail on the great voyages of the Portuguese maritime
discoveries.
Today, now that both the port and beach have disappeared,
the site has become a pleasant leisure area.
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A small chapel - Santa Maria de Belém - was built here at the behest of
Prince Henry the Navigator on the site where the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos now
stands. The monastery was itself commissioned by D. Manuel I. The magnificence
of the building reflects the universal vision of its founder and the powerful
financial resources that the Portuguese crown enjoyed from the treasures and
wealth brought home by Vasco da Gama from the lands he discovered.
The sixteenth century in Portugal was profoundly connected to the Discoveries
and the Messianic idea of the Empire, inspiring a unique style that came to be
known as ''Manueline'', since it was developed in the reign of D. Manuel I. The
decorative features carved out of the monastery' s stone, many of which, such as
ropes, fish and conches, were inspired by the sea.
- Portugal 2002. Details from the Monastery of the Hieronymites. The
stamp on the right is a close-up of the stamp included in the souvenir
sheet.
The monument's original design is the work of the architect Boytac, and its
construction began in I502. This was the initial phase of building work that was
to be continued by other Masters, namely João de Castilho and, in the middle of
the century, Diogo de Torralva. A famous Portuguese, buried in the
Monastery, is the author Luis de Vaz Camðes (1524-1580).
| The Belém [Bethlehem] Tower was
built between the years 1515 and 1521 as a fortress overlooking the Tagus
estuary.
It is one of the most characteristic monuments of the splendid
Manueline period. In the decoration of the elegant tower the most diverse
elements representing the navigating spirit of the Portuguese people can be
seen, and the building constitutes the symbolic essence of the reign of Don
Manuel I The Fortunate.
- Portugal 1972. Tower of Belém, Lisbon.
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- Belém Tower photographed by the webmaster in 1994 during a holiday in Lisbon.
The old fortress has preserved all the grace of its Moorish domes, its lovely
balconies and, most of all, that poetic aura of the past emanating from this
unique white-walled domain.
Sources and link:
Other World Heritage Sites in Portugal and Areas (on this
website). Please refer to the UNESCO-listing,
Portugal-section, for further information about the individual
properties.
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Revised 21 jul 2006
Copyright © 1999 Heindorffhus
All Rights Reserved
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