Lisbon: Jeronimos Monastery, Belem Tower, Monument to the Discoveries and a traditional Fado Show
Monument to the Discoveries
Our day starts with a breakfast buffet at the SANA Malhoa Hotel and a 9AM lobby call for some Lisbon sightseeing.
Our first stop is the Jerónimos Monastery, we can't go inside because they are hosting a mass. But we can look at the building from the outside.
The building was commissioned by King Manuel I, whose reign lasted between 1495 and 1521.
The view from the Jardim da Praça do Império, Empire Square Garden is pretty impressive.
Our tour guide, Richard, has disappeared on us and we found out why...he went to the Pastéis de Belém and brought us back a box of their Pastéis de Belém®.
The story goes...
In 1837 they began making the original Pastéis de Belém®, following an ancient recipe from the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. That secret recipe is recreated every day in their bakery, by hand, using only traditional methods.
Even today, the Pastéis de Belém® offer the unique flavour of time-honoured Portuguese sweet making.
They were delicious, the best we've tasted so far on this trip.
Our next stop is Belém Tower, which is under renovation.
This tower symbolizes Portugal's maritime and colonial power in early modern Europe. It was built during the height of the Portuguese Renaissance, and is a prominent example of the Portuguese Manueline style, but it also incorporates other architectural styles, such as the minarets, which are inspired by Moorish architecture.
You can look across the choppy waters of the Tagus and see the Santuário de Cristo Rei.
Next we visit the Monument to the Discoveries. The 170 ft (52 M tall) statue was designed to commemorate the Age of Discoveries.
Back in downtown Lisbon, we see an elevator in the middle of the street. The city's nickname, "City of Seven Hills," comes from its hilly geography and is a nod to Rome, another city famously built on seven hills. The seven hills of Lisbon are São Jorge, São Vicente, Santo André, Chagas, Santa Catarina, São Roque, and Sant'Ana.
These hills in Lisbon were a challenge for some so why not build an elevator?
The Santa Justa Lift (Portuguese: Elevador de Santa Justa, pronounced), also called Carmo Lift (Portuguese: Elevador do Carmo), is an elevator, or lift, in the civil parish of Santa Maria Maior, in the historic center of Lisbon, Portugal.
Situated at the end of Rua de Santa Justa, it connects the lower streets of the Baixa with the higher Largo do Carmo (Carmo Square). Or you can just take the stairs.
Walking around Lisbon, we visit the Fonte Sul do Rossio, South fountain of Rossio.
There are two identical fountains on either side of the tribute monument of King Pedro IV at the center of the square, providing symmetry and balance to the large space filled with the emblematic pattern of Portuguese pavement, Mar Largo (large sea), which simulates unstable waves and can be quite dizzying to look at in the hot sun.
The monument was designed by António Tomás da Fonseca and erected in 1886.
During this time he governed the country almost unchallenged. A supporter of enlightenment, he broke the power of the Jesuits and implemented secular education with a focus on science and mathematics. At the same time he reformed the economy, agriculture, the political system and the administration to improve efficiency and increase Portugal’s competitiveness.
But the marquis may be best known for his efficient and pragmatic handling of the crisis caused by the earthquake and tsunami that ravaged much of Lisbon in 1755. He is famous for his response to the disaster: “What to do? We bury the dead and feed the living.” Thanks to his leadership there was no epidemic outbreak after the earthquake and reconstruction started swiftly.
The marquis himself led the city’s rebuilding efforts, and he decided to raze the downtown buildings in the Baixa district, most of which had been reduced to rubble. Within thirty days after the earthquake, the marquis had drawn up plans for a new modern district with a network of parallel streets leading to a monumental square, the Praça do Comércio. The architecture used during the reconstruction – with anti-seismic features – is known as the Pombaline style.
The next monument we view is to Pedro Álvares Cabral who was a Portuguese nobleman , military commander , navigator, and explorer , credited as the discoverer of Brazil . He carried out significant exploration of the northeastern coast of South America , claiming it for Portugal .
We break for lunch and some exploration on or own. Jay and I visit Convento do Carmo.
Its roof collapsed on the congregation as it was attending Mass on that All saints’ Day, and was never rebuilt, but the Gothic arches still stand.
Most of the architecture dates back to the 1300s, but Manueline (Portuguese Gothic) windows and other details were added later, in the 16th and 18th centuries.
The sacristy’s small archaeological museum presents an eclectic collection that was donated by archaeologists in the 19th century.
Among the treasures from Portugal and elsewhere are the Roman “Sarcophagus of the Muses,” the Gothic tomb of King Ferdinand I, the Baroque tomb of Queen Maria Anna of Austria (queen of Portugal from 1742 to 1750), an Egyptian mummy, and eerie South American mummies (a young boy and a young girl from Peru).
After lunch we meet grab a taxi back to our hotel and chill for the rest of the afternoon.
We meet our group in the lobby for a quick bus ride to a traditional Fado Show and dinner.
Enjoy!
More photos from our day in Lisbon: CLICK HERE
Tomorrow we're off to Sintra for a visit to the National Palace of Pena. Lobby call is at 8AM so we can beat the crowds.
Travel on my Friends!