Jeronimos Monastery, "construction of which began in 1502, exemplifies Portuguese art at its best....It was commissioned by King Manuel I (1469-1521) and donated to the monks of Saint Jerome so that they would pray for the king and pay spiritual assistance to seafarers who left Lisbon in their quest for the New World....Its very rich ornamentation derives from the exuberance typical of Manueline art." (UNESCO)