A Morning Visit to the Church of Santa Maria

When you’re in Lisbon, the Church of Santa Maria is a must-see attraction in the neighborhood of Belém. The church is part of the larger Jerónimos Monastery complex, but it has its own entrance, and the entry is free. We highly recommend waking up early and heading to the complex early enough to be standing in line just before 10 AM.

The Church of Santa Maria is one of the most unique churches in the world. The temple has a single nave that is held up by six beautifully sculpted columns and the interior of the church seems to go on forever.

The church houses the tombs of Vasco da Gama and Luís de Camões, a Portuguese poet and writer.

We highly recommend the audio tour by Clio Muse Tours. If you purchase the Audio guide for Jerónimos Monastery, the audio guide for the church is included.

After your visit, wander over to Pastéis de Belém for a delicious pastry.

We recently enjoyed a morning at the church ourselves. Here are a few photos. It’s even more stunning in real life.