A masterpiece of 16th century Portuguese architecture, it has been classified as a National Monument and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1983. Its name is due to the monks of the Order of Saint Jerome who inhabited it.

Among the many things to admire, the most noteworthy are the facades, particularly the South Gate, the Church, the Cloisters and the Chancel, where King Manuel I and his son João II are buried. This emblematic Monastery also houses some historical figures, such as the navigator Vasco da Gama and the poet Luís de Camões.