Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova

About

From here you have an amazing view over the city of Coimbra. In this church the incorrupt body of Saint Isabel, Queen of Portugal, patron of Coimbra and wife of D. Dinis, the founder of the Portuguese University, rests in a silver tomb. Its cloister is the largest cloister of Portugal with an arcade and gallery. A beautiful statue of Saint Isabel, that is carried in procession during the great festivities, stands at the top of the church. The baroque gilded woodwork, the paintings, the magnificent gothic stone tomb of the Holy Queen and the row of 76 chairs, among other art works are certainly worth a visit. Since we are a private institution and have no help from the government or municipality, the entrance fees cover basic maintenance and pay for the young employees who keep the doors and gates of the churchyard 7 days a week open to visitors. We appeal to your understanding and support, but also to your contribution to the badly needed rehabilitation and conservation interventions.

At a glance

• Typical visit: about 1 hour 30 minutes