Cloister
Shortly after the return of Vasco da Gama from India, king Manuel I ordered the construction of a church and cloister for the Hieronymite religious order as a token of thanks for Portugal's good fortune. The sacristy leads to the magnificent cloister, which in itself is well worth a visit. Created by João de Castilho and completed in 1544, the two story cloister is profusely decorated with rich Manueline motifs. Each column has unique decorations; no two columns are alike. To the west the cloister is bordered by the refectory, decorated with eighteenth-century azulejos (ceramic tiles). Opposite the refectory is the chapter house, which holds the tomb of the first mayor of Belém.