The church of Santa Maria de Belém originated from the expansion, ordered by Henry the Navigator in the 15th century, of a previous hermitage built on the site. The new church was trusted to the Order of Christ- of which Henry the Navigator was the Grand Master- to help the seamen that passed by Belém, as the hermitage had done before. In 1501, by order of King D. Manuel I, the Monastery of the Hieronymites started being built and the small church was totally remodelled in the Manueline and Renaissance styles. It was the king's wish that the church should become a pantheon for the dynasty (Avis-Beja) started by him, and that it continued to help the travellers passing through Belém. Like the Monastery, the church was significantly restored in the 19th century. Inside the church are the tombs of several historical figures: Luís de Camões, one of Portugal's greatest poets who lived in the 16th century, Vasco da Gama, the first navigator to go to In...
Saint John's Co-Cathedral was commissioned by Grand Master Jean de la Cassière and built as the conventual church for the Knights of Saint John, between 1573 and 1578. It's a Roman Catholic cathedral, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. The Grand Master and several knights donated gifts of high artistic value for its decoration, making its interior a gem of Baroque art and architecture. While the exterior reflects the knights' military pragmatism, the interior reveals their sophistication, power and wealth. Not to miss the paintings by Caravaggio, "Saint Jerome writing" and "The beheading of Saint John the Baptist". Opening hours: 9.30 to 16.30 (12.30 on Sat., closed on Sun.) Entrance fee: €10 Back to Valletta
Archaeological excavations in Lisbon's Cathedral Cloister started in 1990. These excavations have unearthed remnants of human presence since the Iron Age.It's possible to see the remains of a Roman road with shops on both sides. This road would have connected the Roman Theater to the port area. From the Roman period, there's also part of a kitchen and a "cloaca" (sewage system).From later periods there are traces of Visigothic buildings and a very visible part of a Moorish building with red walls, probably related with the Mosque that once stood on the site where Lisbon's cathedral was built. Opening hours : 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ticket (standard) : €2.5 (€4 combined with the Treasury), cash only. Roman road and shops. Roman sewage system close to a Moorish public building. Moorish building.
The National Museum of Archaeology is housed in Auberge de Provence, a fine example of Baroque architecture, built in 1571 for the Knights of the Order of Saint John originating from Provence, in France. The museum was inaugurated in 1958, including the archaeological and the fine arts collections. In 1974 the fine arts collection was moved to other premises and the museum became known by the designation it has today. It exhibits an impressive set of artefacts, ranging from Malta's Neolithic Period (5000 BC) to the Phoenician Period (400 BC). One of the highlights of the museum is the small statuette "The Sleeping Lady", for its uncommon features. Opening hours: 9.00 to 18.00 (17.00 Jan. and Feb.) Ticket: €5 Back to Valletta
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