Originally the home for the Hieronymite religious order, it was built by the Infante Henry the Navigator around 1459. The chapel that existed there, to the invocation of Santa Maria de Belém, was serviced by monks of the military-religious Order of Christ who provided assistance to pilgrims who transited the area. The small beach of Praia do Restelo was an advantage spot, with safe anchorage and protection from the winds,sought after by the ships that entered the Tagus. The Hermitage of Restelo (Portuguese: Ermida do Restelo), as it was known, was already a hermitage in disrepair, when Vasco da Gama and his men spent the night in prayer before departing on their expedition to the Orient in 1497.
The existing structure was started on the orders of Manuel I (1469–1521) at the courts of Montemor-o-Velho in 1495, as a final resting-place for members of the House of Aviz, in his belief that an Iberian dynastic kingdom would rule after his death. In 1496, King Manuel petitioned the Holy See for permission to construct a monastery at the entrance of Lisbon, along the margins of the Tagus River.[2] It was after the arrival of Vasco da Gama, a year later with samples of gold he discovered, that the monastery became a representation of Portuguese expansionism. The church became a house of prayer for seamen leaving or entering port.
Source: Wikipedia
I was here wondering why urbex is such a common practice now. The world suddenly woke up and realised that ruins are beautiful?
Years ago no one would care and no one would understand why people would take photos from dilapidated places. Urbex was considered underground and not all photographers would shoot in these places. Abandoned locations were used for car and models photoshoots but never considered "attractive" by the majority.
So, what happened? Why the sudden boom?
I honestly don't like to know that a certain location is being revealed and visited over and over again. A lot of things can happen, including this.
It is a shame to see beautiful places disappear in flames, being vandalised, robbed and stripped out from its original beauty.
The veteran photographers are starting to pull away from urbex photography and this is a shame. Who will take good pictures of the locations and at the same time preserve everything? The new and "cool" photographers??
People's mentality is not prepared for the ultimate Urbex code: "take only pictures, leave only footsteps".
"So drink to forget
and drown all your sorrow
bury your dreams
and choose Catharsis"
