The Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Belém, founded by King Manuel I at the beginning of his reign, began to be built on Three Kings Day in 1501 or 1502.
The aims of political affirmation, propaganda and glorification are evident in the scale and artistic quality of the architectural project, as well as in the rarity and sumptuousness of the works of art with which it was successively enriched.
King Manuel’s preference for the Order of St Jerome, which was not unrelated to his Iberian political project, was decisive for the artistic and cultural uniqueness of this magnificent monastic complex. Indeed, as this was an Order centred on the theological dimension and primarily focused on the magnificence and beauty of liturgical worship, the Hieronymite monastery in Belém achieved unparalleled thematic and artistic sophistication.
Listed as a heritage site in the 19th century, it was designated a National Monument in 1907 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Linked to the State Protocol, its church and cloister form the most visited heritage complex in the country.
Address
Praça do Império, Belém1400-206
Lisboa
Lisboa
Director / Person in Charge
- Margarida Donas Botto
