Coimbra Cathedral (New Cathedral)
The Sé Nova (New Cathedral) in Coimbra was originally a Jesuit church built slowly over a hundred years between 1598 and 1698.
The church's first architect was Baltazar Alvares and the design of the building was based on the Mosteiro de São Vicente de Fora in Lisbon.
When the Jesuits were expelled from Portugal by the Marquis de Pombal in 1759, Sé Nova became vacant. Thus in 1772 cathedral status was transferred from the smaller Sé Velha to the larger Sé Nova, which is located at the top of the hill in the historic higher part of the city (Alta de Coimbra) close to Coimbra University.
Architecture
A highlight of the church's architecture is the façade, which features four statues of Jesuit saints (St. Ignatius, St. Aloysius Gonzaga, St. Francis Xavier and St. Francis of Borja) in its lower part. The top half, completed in the eighteenth century is Baroque, and features large statues of Saint Peter and Paul.
The interior consists of a single vaulted nave with numerous side chapels including the Chapel of the Resurrection, Chapel of St. Thomas and Chapel of the Sacrament.
Also within the church are the tombs of various bishops of the cathedral including Jorge Almeida, Pedro Martins, Tibúrcio, Estevão Anes Brochardo and Egas Fafes and also the foundation stone of the earlier Visigothic cathedral that was on this site until its destruction in 1117.
The decoration of the Sé Nova is dominated by the magnificent gilded woodwork of the chancel done in the late seventeenth century, with four niches that hold the images of four Jesuit saints (St. Ignatius, St. Francis Borgia, St. Francis Xavier and St. Stanislaus Kotska).
The seventeenth century chancel stalls are done in exotic wood and bronze, which was brought from the Sé Velha along with the early sixteenth century baptismal font.
The design of the Sé Nova was copied by other Jesuit churches built overseas in Portuguese colonies.
Nearby
Sé Velha is opposite the Museu Nacional de Machado de Castro, close to the buildings of Coimbra University (Sala dos Capelos & Capela de São Miquel), and the Museu da Ciência. The Coimbra Botanical Garden is also within easy walking distance.
Access & Hours
Sé Nova
Largo da Feira dos Estudantes
3600-213 Coimbra
Tel: 239 823 138
Hours: Monday-Saturday; 10 am - 6.30 pm; Sunday 10 am-12.30 am
Admission: Free to enter the cathedral.
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