An armillary sphere on top of the dome
King Manuel I (1495–1521) built this monastery to thank the Virgin Mary for Vasco de Gama's successful voyages to India. It replaced a small chapel dedicated to St. Mary of Belém built by Henry the Navigator that was on the banks of the Tagus river. The monks that came to the monastery were the Order of St. Jerome (Hieronymites, or dos Jerónimos), and they were to celebrate daily mass for the souls of Prince Henry the Navigator, King Manuel I and his successors in perpetuity. The monastery is now a World Heritage site.
We were quite impressed with the architecture of the monastery which was a style that we were told was Manueline (named after King Manuel I). It was quite ornate - Gothic, Moorish and Flamboyant and has a lot of maritime motifs and twisted ropes.
The primary motif that we always looked for was the Armillary Sphere. We had a lot of fun looking for the Armillary Spheres which is a navigational instrument and the personal emblem of Manuel I and also symbol of the cosmos.
Front door
At the front door of the church
The cloisters were particularly ornate and they have the four corners cut at an oblique angle instead of 90 degrees which is more usual.
Cloisters courtyard with my sister and niece
The corner of the cloister cut at an oblique angle
Cloisters
Open arches in the corridor around the cloisters
Tuesday, 21 July
We stayed in the Hotel Borges which was very centrally located. I'm not sure who made the reservation but according to the internet, ... you will be able to see the Mario Viegas Theatre, Sao Carlos National Theatre and the renovated Museum of Chiado. .. Barrio Alto can be reached in just 50 seconds walking from the hotel, and it will only take you 10 minutes to get to the airport and 2 minutes to get to the train station.
View from our hotel window
I think the Sao Carlos National Theatre is what is visible under the window awning in my picture.
According to websites wireless internet is available in public areas and costs EUR 5.00 per 24 hours. For my niece, their current policy is that all children under 2 years stay free of charge for cots. Breakfast is included in the price now, but I don't think that was the policy then.
Dear Mother
We have been having a good time in Lisbon. First after I say that I have sent about 2/3rds of my postcards (I brought typed address labels with me for the people I would owe a card to) and have the last 20 ready to write, I will say what I have bought.
Today we both spent $95 each on a rug -- handmade to order here in Portugal -- measuring about 4.5 x 6 I think. Hers is gold and dark blue & greens in a moorish design and mine is a blue background with light blue and gold and orange border. We pay when we receive it which would be in about October. I have had it shipped to Norfolk.
2004 photo of the Rug that I bought in 1964 (my sister's rug did not survive)
When we went to Lady Blanche Ellis at the Sociedade Inglesa Docoracoes e Antiquidades Lda -- Rua da Emenda about the rugs, I wore my suit and lent my sister one of my jersey sheaths.
I have shipped a package from Madeira House - it is a hand woven stole and I have a skirt to match which I am bringing with me. Also from Madeira House a package containing some handkerchiefs (unspecified gifts) and some round embroidered mats.
skirt with hand woven stripes
I have bought my sister a gold filigree pin for her birthday. I have also bought one for myself. She has bought herself a pin and earring set and also a skirt, stole, and a blouse like mine.
Two packages were purchased with your money on Monday. They are Portuguese costumes and are about $8.00 each.
Portuguese costumes
Five packages have been mailed from a tile shop on Rue de Aleorum. They are insured so open them to see if anything is broken. There is one with two roosters (one for each of us), one with some plates and 3 of 5 with tiles. Don't show them around, they are all gifts.
Tile shop - fountain
samples of tile in the shop
Black cat tile that I bought
Tiles that make a picture
I have bought 3 blouses, a child's dress, 2 fans (cheap) a straw child's hat (for my daughter) and a straw basket and mat in Madrid. I will send them as soon as I can find a way to mail them.
I guess that takes care of our purchases.
Outskirts of Lisbon
Roman aqueduct on the way to Queluz
- Next entry in the series 'Visiting Europe - 1950, 1964, 1992, 2002, 2015': Touring by Taxi from Lisbon in 1964 - post 8
- Previous entry in the series 'Visiting Europe - 1950, 1964, 1992, 2002, 2015': Bus Tour to Belem 1964 - post 6
