Jaap van 't Veen's photos with the keyword: Lissabon

The Igreja de São Domingos (Saint Domingos Church) was dedicated in 1241 and was - at one time - the largest church in Lisbon. Prior to the establishment of the Portuguese republic in 1910, the church hosted Portuguese royal weddings. It was once the home of the inquisition. Most probably no other church of Lisbon was damaged by so many disasters like the earthquakes of 1531 and 1755 (which destroyed most of the center of Lisbon). Rebuilding began quickly, but wasn't completed until 1807. In 1959 the church was devastated again after a fire broke out. The fire took more than six hours to extinguish and completely gutted the church, destroying the gilded altars and many important paintings and statues. In was not until 1994 before the church was reopened. The restoration left many signs of the fire in place. The present Igreja de São Domingos - a combination of sections of the original church with later reconstructions - has a somewhat haunting interior with its orange/red plastered walls and massive stone pillars with still traces of the fire. This ‘strange’ combination of ancient and more modern architecture made it (at least for us) quite an unique sight.

Behind the simple facade of the Igreja de São Roque (Church of Saint Roch) hides one of the most decorative churches of Lisbon. It is said that if you can only visit one church in Lisbon, then this church should be the choice. The Igreja de São Roque was originally a shrine which housed a relic from Saint Roch. He was canonized for his healing of plague victims. King Manuel I of Portugal believed that a relic from Saint Roch would protect Lisbon and he constructed a small shire to house the relic. The Jesuits made up a large sector of the Roman Catholic church and the Igreja de São Roque became their official home in the latter half of 16th century. Their devotion and money transformed the humble shrine of Sao Roque into one of the most opulent churches of Lisbon. The church was the first Jesuit church in Portugal and one of the earliest anywhere in the world. Their presence lasted roughly 200 years before they were permanently expelled from Portugal in 1759. The Igreja de São Roque , including the attached buildings and residences were confiscated. Nine years later the property was given to the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa a Portuguese charitable organisation, whose original church and administrative buildings were destroyed by the devastating 1755 earthquake ( São Roque was one of the few buildings in the centre of the city that wasn’t damaged). This organisation still owns and operates the site today. The interior of the church - with its varied styles and different types of artworks that including gilt wood, glazed tiles, Florentine mosaics and a ornately painted ceiling - offers four altars and nine chapels. The most significant and beautiful chapel is the Capela de São João Baptista (Saint John the Baptist). The construction was commissioned by King João V in 1742 and is considered being a masterpiece of 18th century European art. The chapel is unique while it was constructed twice: first in Rome to be blessed by Pope Benedict XIV then dismantled, transported to Lisbon and rebuilt in the Igreja de São Roque . Main picture: Chapel of St. John the Baptist (r) and Chapel of Our Lady of Piety (l) PiP1: Chapel of St. John the Baptist PiP2: Chapel of the Most Holy Sacrament PiP3: Chancel/main altar

The Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Jeronimos Monastery) is the most impressive symbol of Portugal's power and wealth during the Age of Discovery. Portugal’s King Manuel I gave orders for the construction of the monastery, which started in 1501. It was built on the site of a chapel where Vasco da Gama and his crew spent their last night in Portugal in prayer before leaving for India. Funding of this project came also from a 5% tax on many colony imports, meaning a massive amount of money was raised. The original time planned to construct the monastery was only eight years, but as the ‘pepper tax’ brought in greater wealth the plans grew and grew. The construction was ended in 1601 and the monastery was finally inaugurated by Felipe II, the Spanish ruler of the Iberian Union, in 1604. The architecture of the building was influenced by the Manueline style (named after the King Manuel I). Inspired by the sea voyages, the decorative style incorporated anchors, ropes, and other maritime symbols, in addition to religious symbols. Gothic and renaissance styles also influenced the building’s construction. The Church of Santa Maria is completely different from the rest. The temple has a single nave that is held up by six beautifully sculpted columns. The monks selected by King Manuel I to live in the monastery belonged to the Order of Saint Jerome (Hieronymites), so it was also known as the Hieronymites Monastery. The Jerónimos Monastery is the final resting place for King Manuel I and his family. Many famous Portuguese writers are also buried here, as well as world-renowned navigator Vasco da Gama. Due to the clever engineering design of small columns that support the vast roof of the church, the building could withstand the devastating 1755 earthquake. The majority of Lisbon’s large buildings collapsed, while Mosteiro dos Jerónimos had only slight damage. The monastery decayed during the abolition of the religious orders brought about by the protracted invasion by Napoleon and the entire church complex almost collapsed. Restoration work began after 1860 and was ‘finished’ mid-20th century; renovation and conservation are still going on. Due to its cultural and architectural significance, the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos was classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Nowadays the monastery is one of the most prominent and visited touristy sights of Lisbon.

The Igreja de Santo António (Saint Anthony Church) is dedicated to Saint Anthony of Lisbon, also known as Saint Anthony of Padua, the patron saint of Portugal. The significance of this church originates from it being the location of the birthplace of Lisbon’s beloved Saint Anthony. A small underground chapel marks the location where Saint Anthony was born in 1195. Saint Anthony (or Fernando de Bulhões, as his real name was) was born in Lisbon in 1195. He was the son of a wealthy family. The site of the family house where Fernando was born, located very close to Lisbon Cathedral, was turned into a small chapel in the 15th century. This building, from which nothing remains, was rebuilt in the early 16th century, during the reign of King Manuel I. In 1730, under king João V, the church was rebuilt and redecorated. In the 1755 Lisbon earthquake the Santo António church was almost completely destroyed. It was fully rebuilt after 1767 in a Baroque-Rococo style, as it can be visited today. Igreja Santo António has a light and welcoming interior, which is adorned with statues and images of Saint Anthony’s life. The entire atmosphere is the complete contrast - and much more inviting - to the more or less sombre Sé, Lisbon’s cathedral ( www.ipernity.com/doc/294067/49372046 ), in which the Igreja de Santo António stands in the shadow of.

Alfama is located on one of the seven hills of Lisbon, between Castelo de São Jorge ( www.ipernity.com/doc/294067/49372046 ) and the Tagus river. Alfama is Lisbon's oldest neighbourhood. During the time of Moorish rule, the city consisted only of Alfama. The district became inhabited by the fishermen and the poor. Nowadays Alfama has shrugged off this grim reputation and has transformed into a fashionable and artisan district, but still retains its unique character and rich heritage. The name of the district also dates back from this period. Alfama comes from the Arabic al hamma which means “baths” or “hot fountains”. In the past there were hot springs at the foot of the hill. During the earthquake of 1755, the neighbourhood remained more or less untouched, which is why there are still many old buildings. Alfama has a romantic, picturesque appearance and is a maze of steep cobbled streets, narrow alleys, tiny squares and steep stairs. It offers also some miradouros (viewpoints) with stunning views over the houses and roofs towards the Tagus river.

The monastery of São Vicente de Fora (meaning: Monastery of St. Vincent Outside the Walls) was founded in 1147 by the first Portuguese king Dom Afonso Henriques for the Augustinian Order, as the result of a vow made to the martyr Saint Vincent in thanksgiving for the recovery of Lisbon from the Moor. He had built a simple temple and although many improvements were made during the first half of the 16th century, the building was very much decayed and in risk of ruin. King Filipe II of Spain, who had also become king of Portugal in 1580, decided that the church and monastery of São Vicente de Fora should be completely rebuilt. The works started in 1582 and the new church was consecrated in 1629. However the rest of the works went on until the 18th century. During the 1755 earthquake the buildings were severely damaged. It took almost a century before the monastery and the church were restored to their present state. The buildings are designed in an austere style, which is typical for the Portuguese architecture of the 16th century. The monastery with its two cloisters is beautifully decorated with hand-painted blue and white azulejos (tiles), showing panels based on the fables of La Fontaine.

The Sé de Lisboa (officially Igreja de Santa Maria Maior is Lisbon’s cathedral and the oldest church in the city. The Sé was built in the year of 1147, after Dom Afonso Henriques - the first king of Portugal - reconquered Lisbon from the Moors. It was located on the main mosque of Lisbon. This first building was completed between 1147 and the first decades of the 13th century in Late Romanesque style. Earthquakes have always been a problem for Lisbon and its cathedral. During the 14th and 16th centuries there were several of them, but the worst of all was the 1755 earthquake, which destroyed the Gothic main chapel along with the royal pantheon. The cloisters and many chapels were also ruined and the fire that followed. The cathedral was partially rebuilt and - in the beginning of the 20th century - was given the appearance that it has today after a profound renovation. The neoclassical decoration from outside and inside of the cathedral was removed to give the cathedral a more "mediaeval" appearance. The name Sé derives from Sedes Episcopalis , which simply means “bishop’s seat”. Nowadays this impressive and iconic religious building with its massive solid walls and two imposing clock towers is one of the most significant touristy sights of Lisbon. During our visit there were renovations of the ancient cloisters, so we couldn’t visit. PiP4 was taken from our apartment, which was located just next to the Sé .

Castelo de São Jorge (Saint George Castle) is located on a hill top - the most privileged area - of the old medieval citadel above the city of Lisbon. It consists of the castle, the ruins of the former royal palace, as well as a residential neighbourhood, which was home of the elite. The moated fortification with its towers and ramparts was built in the mid-11th century during the Moorish period. It is situated on the most inaccessible area on the top of a hill. Where most European castles intend to perform a residential role, the purpose of Castelo de São Jorge was to house military troops and - in case of a siege - the elite who lived in the citadel. After Dom Afonso Henriques conquered Lisbon in 1147, the castle began its golden age as a home for the royalty. The original buildings were modified and enlarged to accommodate the king, his court and the bishop. When Portugal became part of Spain in 1580, Castelo de São Jorge became an important military role, which continued until the early 20th century. After the devastating earthquake in 1755 the most substantial renovation work took place on the old citadel, with new buildings gradually covering over the older ruins. The castle and ruins of the former royal palace were rediscovered after major restorations between 1938 and 1940. Castelo de São Jorge regained its former magnificence and was opened to the public. Nowadays it is a National Monument and one of the most important touristic sights of Lisbon. (The main picture is taken from the observation deck of the Santa Justa Lift.)