Convento de Santa Clara-a-Velha
The Convento de Santa Clara-a-Velha (Old Convent of St. Clare) in Coimbra was built on the left (western) bank of the River Mondego in the 13th century.
The all-female convent was forced to close a few year later as its existence was opposed by male monks from a rival order. However, the convent was reopened and expanded in 1314 with support from Queen Isabel.
Tombs
The Gothic church housed the tombs of Queen Isabel (1271-1336), the wife of Dom Dinis (1261-1325) along with Inês de Castro (1320-1355), the tragic, murdered "wife" of Dom Pedro I (1320-1367).
Inês de Castro was killed and beheaded close to the church and first buried here before her body was later interred at the Monastery of Alcobaça, not before, according to legend, Pedro had her exhumed, clad in regal clothes and seated on a royal throne.
However, the Convento de Santa Clara-a-Velha had to be abandoned in the 17th century due to persistent flooding. A new church, the Convento de Santa Clara-a-Nova was built on higher ground and the tomb of Queen Isabel (aka Elizabeth of Aragon), and later beatified as a saint by the Catholic church, was moved there.
After the Convento de Santa Clara-a-Velha was abandoned in 1667 the site was gradually covered over the succeeding centuries with river silt and fell into decay. Post-1995 a large-scale restoration programme has removed the mud and a new Visitors' Centre has been built nearby, which opened in 2009.
The Visitors' Centre introduces the history of the convent and religious life in the Middle Ages and includes objects excavated from the convent as well as a museum shop and cafe.
Nearby
Other attractions in Coimbra include the Museu Nacional de Machado de Castro, the buildings of Coimbra University (Sala dos Capelos & Capela de São Miquel), Sé Nova and the Museu da Ciência. The Coimbra Botanical Garden is also worth a visit and is free to enter.
Access & Hours
Convento de Santa Clara-a-Velha
Rua das Parreiras, Santa Clara
3040-266 Coimbra
Tel: 239 801 160
Hours: April 1 to October 15: 10 am-7 pm (last entrance at 6.15pm)
October 16 to March 31: 10 am-5 pm (last entrance at 4.30 pm)
Admission: There is a fee to the Visitors Centre and the church.
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