River Sentinel. 🏰
Built in 1515 to guard the mouth of the Tagus River. It was the last thing sailors saw before months at sea, and the first welcome home.
Manueline Style
Look closely at the stones. They are carved to look like twisted ropes, sea monsters, and armillary spheres. It is architecture obsessed with the ocean.
The Dungeon
The basement was a prison. At high tide, the water would rise up to the necks of the prisoners. A grim contrast to the beauty above.
Jerónimos Monastery. ⛪
Financed by a 5% tax on spices brought back from India. It is a monument to the insane wealth of the Portuguese Empire in the 16th century.
Vasco da Gama
His tomb is just inside the entrance, supported by stone lions. He opened the sea route to India and changed global economics forever.
The Cloister
The two-story courtyard is a masterpiece of stone lace. Every column is different, carved with maritime motifs and exotic animals.
The Line
The queue to get in is legendary. Pro Tip: Buy a combo ticket at the Archaeology Museum next door to skip the main line.
Rose of the Winds
World Map
The Stone Ship. ⛵
A massive limestone monument shaped like the prow of a caravel. It features 33 historical figures—explorers, poets, and cartographers—staring out to sea.
Look Down:
The square in front of the monument is a giant marble mosaic of the world map. You can walk across continents and see the dates Portuguese ships arrived in Brazil, Japan, and Angola.
Carmo Convent. 🏛️
On All Saints Day 1755, a massive earthquake destroyed Lisbon. The roof of this church collapsed on the congregation. It was never rebuilt.
Open Sky
Walking through the nave with the blue sky as a ceiling is haunting. It stands as a permanent memorial to the destruction of the city.
Archaeological Museum
The interior now houses a small museum with an eclectic collection, including Peruvian mummies and Roman sarcophagi. It is surreal and beautiful.