Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova

Santa Clara-a-Nova Monastery (Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Nova) in Coimbra is a Baroque convent of Poor Clare nuns on a hillside across the Mondego from the old town. It holds the remains of Saint Elizabeth of Portugal, the medieval queen and patron saint of the city, and has drawn pilgrims for centuries.

Why was a new monastery built?

The nuns first lived in the Gothic convent of Santa Clara-a-Velha, right beside the river. By the 17th century, repeated floods and the silting of the Mondego had made it unlivable. The community decided to rebuild higher up the slope. Work began in 1649 to plans by Frei João Torriano, the kingdom's chief engineer, with the church designed by Mateus do Couto. The church was consecrated in 1696.

What is there to see inside?

• The Queen's tomb. In 1677 a large procession carried her body over from the old convent. It lies in a silver-and-crystal coffin made by Lisbon goldsmiths and set above the high altar. The coffin was ordered after her first grave was opened in 1612 and the body was found intact.
• The Gothic tomb. In the lower choir stands the stone tomb Elizabeth had made during her lifetime. Scholars still debate whether it dates from around 1330 or a few years earlier.
• The church interior. A single nave with no transept, gilded Baroque woodwork and 18th-century paintings of scenes from the Queen's life. The apse holds a 19th-century polychrome statue of the saint by Teixeira Lopes.
• The cloister. The Baroque cloister was drawn by architect Carlos Mardel and now houses a military museum.

How do you get there, and what is nearby?

The monastery stands in the Santa Clara district, on the opposite bank from the university and the historic centre. From downtown you can walk over the Santa Clara bridge, followed by an uphill stretch of around fifteen minutes. The hill gives wide views over Coimbra and the Mondego valley. At the foot of the slope lie the ruins of Santa Clara-a-Velha, the queen's original resting place.

When should you visit?

Opening hours and ticket prices change, so check Visit Portugal or the ticket provider before you go. Afternoon light is best for the views. The church is a working place of worship, so dress and behave accordingly.

Frequently asked questions

Is Santa Clara-a-Nova the same as Santa Clara-a-Velha? No. Santa Clara-a-Velha is the Gothic ruin by the river. Santa Clara-a-Nova is the Baroque monastery on the hill, to which the nuns and the queen's tomb were moved.

Who is buried here? Saint Elizabeth of Portugal, wife of King Denis. She died in Estremoz in 1336, and her body was laid to rest in Coimbra as she had wished.

What is in the cloister? A military museum, set in the Baroque cloister designed by Carlos Mardel.

When was the monastery built? Construction started in 1649 and the church was consecrated in 1696. The queen's remains arrived in 1677.