ST. MARY'S AT BELÉM, LISBON

WIENER, Jacques and Charles: Portugal, 1867, Bronze, 59 mm
Obv: View of exterior    STE MARIE A BELEM (LISBONNE)
Rev: View of interior
On left:  PAR LE ROI EMANUEL-LE-GRAND
On right:  FONDEE EN 1499
Signed: J. ET CH. WIENER / J. WIENER 1867
Ref: Van Hoydonck 219; Reinecke 56;Bouhy 42; Ross M281; Weiss BW277

Lisbon (Lisboa) is the capital and chief port of Portugal, standing at the westernmost point of Europe. The city is one of the most spectacular in Europe, rivaling Naples and Istanbul in its wide views, the distinctive silhouette of its buildings and its enclosed situation. In 1390 Lisbon was made an archbishopric, and in the following centuries its importance grew with the opening of the sea route to India, the discovery of Brazil and widespread voyages of Portuguese mariners. It became a great commercial port and the center of the distribution of the riches of the Spanish overseas empire from 1580 to 1640. It was from Lisbon that the Spanish Armada sailed in 1588.

Much of the city was devastated in 1755 in the Great Lisbon Earthquake.

St. Mary's at Belém (Santa Maria de Belém) was founded in 1499 by Emanuel I (Monoel) (1469-1521), 14th king of Portugal. His reign is noteworthy for Vasco da Gama's opening of an all-sea route to India and Cabral's landing in Brazil. His intense religious zeal manifested itself in his persecutions of the Jews, in endeavors to promote a crusade against the Turks, and his building of numerous monasteries, churches and cathedrals.

LINK to Vasco da Gama (from Wikipedia)

LINK to History of  Ecclesiastic Architecture (from World History at KMLA)

LINK  to Photo of St. Mary's at Belém (by Ben Weiss)

HOME PAGE