Date

Circa 1910

This western portal is a good example of the transition from the Gothic style to Renaissance. It was built by Nicolau Chanterene in 1517. The tympanum depicts the Annunciation, the Nativity, and the Epiphany. Two angels, holdings the arms of Portugal, close the archivolt. The splays on each side of the portal are filled with statues. Established near Toledo in 1374, the Hieronymite Order soon became popular in Spain and Portugal, and in 1415 it numbered 25 houses. Prince Henry the Navigator (1394-1460) founded S Maria de Belém, a chapel of the Order of Christ, for mariners. Soon after his accession Manuel I (reigned 1495-1521) decided to build a grand monastery for the Hieronymite Order, which would continue to serve mariners as well as providing a burial place for the king. It also commemorated Vasco da Gama's successful return from India and was built with money from the spice trade; he is buried in the church. This project drained funds from the work at Batalha, which remained unfinished. The complex includes the church, monastery, sacristy, and refectory. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.