Monastery of the Hieronymites and Tower of Belém in Lisbon

Standing at the entrance to Lisbon harbour, the Monastery of the Hieronymites &ndash; construction of which began in 1502 &ndash; exemplifies Portuguese art at its best. The nearby Tower of Bel&eacute;m, built to commemorate Vasco da Gama's expedition, is a reminder of the great maritime discoveries that laid the foundations of the modern world.