Mosteiro dos Jerónimos

Belém is associated with Portugal's golden age of exploration. In the 15th and 16th centuries, intrepid navigators set sail from the shores of this Lisbon suburb on long and perilous voyages to chart unknown waters and map new territories.

In 1498, one of these mariners, Vasco da Gama, discovered the sea route to India, and King Manuel I commissioned a monument to honor his achievement, which became a lasting symbol of the country's amazing era of conquest and expansion. The Mosteiro dos Jerónimos is now one of the country's most beloved and revered structures, and it is a must-see for all visitors.

The church and monastery encapsulate the spirit of the era and contain some of the finest examples of Manueline architecture in the world.

The church and monastery encapsulate the spirit of the era and contain some of the finest examples of Manueline architecture anywhere in Portugal; the South Portal's ornate decoration is breathtaking.

The beautiful cloister is equally exuberant on the inside. The tomb of Vasco da Gama and other national figures, including Lus de Cames, Portugal's greatest poet and chronicler of the discoveries, are appropriately housed in the church.

• Location: Lisbon