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The existing structure was started on the orders of [[Manuel I of Portugal|Manuel I]] (1515–1521) at the courts of Montemor-o-Velho in 1495, as a final resting-place for members of the [[House of Aviz|House of Aviz-Beja]], in his belief that an Iberian dynastic kingdom would rule after his death.<ref>Nuno Senos (2003), p.103</ref> In 1496, King Manuel petitioned the [[Holy See]] for permission to construct a monastery at the entrance of Lisbon, along the margins of the [[Tagus River]].<ref name=MJHistoria16/> It was after the arrival of [[Vasco da Gama]], a year later, bringing with him gold samples, that the Monastary became a representation of Portuguese expansionism, and that the church became a house of prayer for seamen leaving or entering port.<ref>Nuno Senos (2003), p.105</ref><ref>Nuno Senos (2003), p.107</ref>
The construction of the monastery and church began in 1501, and were completed 50 years later.<ref name=MJHistoria16/> King Manuel funded the project with money obtained from ''Vintena da Pimenta'', a 5% tax on commerce from Africa and the Orient
Manuel I selected the religious order of [[Hieronymite]] monks to occupy the monastery, whose role was to
The monastery was designed in the [[Manueline]] style by [[Diogo de Boitaca]] (who was probably one of the originators of this style with the [[Monastery of Jesus of Setúbal]] in Setúbal). He built the church, the monastery, the sacristy, and the [[refectory]]. He used ''calcário de lioz'', a local gold-coloured [[limestone]], that were quarried from Ajuda, the valley of Alcântara, Laveiras, Rio Seco and Tercena, for its construction.<ref name=MJHistoria16/> Boitaca was succeeded by the Spaniard [[João de Castilho]], who took charge of construction in around 1517. Castilho gradually moved from the Manueline style to the ''[[Renaissance architecture|Plateresco]]'' style, a style with lavish decorations that recall silverware (''plata''). There were several sculptors who made their mark on this building. [[Nicolau Chanterene]] added depth with his [[Renaissance]] themes. The construction came to a halt when the king Manuel I died in 1521.▼
The architect [[Diogo de Torralva]] resumed the construction of the monastery in 1550, adding the main chapel, the choir, and completing the two stories of the monastery, using only Renaissance motifs. His work was continued in 1571 by [[Jérôme de Rouen]] (also called Jerónimo de Ruão) who added some Classical elements. The construction stopped in 1580 with the union of Spain and Portugal, because the building of the [[Escorial]] in Spain was now draining away all the funds.▼
▲The monastery was designed in
The monastery withstood the [[1755 Lisbon earthquake|Great Earthquake]] of 1755 without too much damage. But when the building became vacant in 1833 by the abolition of the religious orders in Portugal, it began to deteriorate to the point of almost collapsing. A [[cupola]] was later added to the southwestern tower.▼
▲Manuel I selected the religious order of [[Hieronymite]] monks to occupy the monastery, whose role was to pary for the Kings eternal soul and to provide spiritual assistance to navigators and sailors who departed from the beach of Restelo to discover the world.<ref name=MJHistoria16/> This the monks did until 1833 (over four centuries), when the religious orders were dissolved and the monastery was unoccupied.<ref name=MJHistoria16/>
▲The architect [[Diogo de Torralva]] resumed the construction of the monastery in 1550, adding the main chapel, the choir, and completing the two stories of the monastery, using only Renaissance motifs. His work was continued in 1571 by [[Jérôme de Rouen]] (also called Jerónimo de Ruão) who added some Classical elements. The construction stopped in 1580 with the union of Spain and Portugal, because the building of the [[Escorial]] in Spain was now draining away all the funds.
▲
On December 13, 2007, the [[Treaty of Lisbon]] was signed at the monastery, laying down the basis for the reform of the [[European Union]].
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