Full monastery visit
€5.00
A seventeenth-century monastery and church holding the silver and stone tombs of Queen Saint Isabel. The church, cloister and royal tomb connect devotion, art and the relocation of the Poor Clares.
A seventeenth-century monastery and church holding the silver and stone tombs of Queen Saint Isabel.

The Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova in Coimbra serves as a significant seventeenth-century landmark that bridges the gap between religious devotion and artistic heritage. Visitors are invited to explore the historic church and cloister, which house the profound silver and stone tombs of Queen Saint Isabel. This site offers a unique look at monastic architecture, detailing the story behind the relocation of the Poor Clares. Guests can engage with the collections and spaces that define this enduring part of local history. It provides an immersive look at the city's artistic past through its well-preserved, meaningful setting.

The Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova was established on higher ground in Coimbra after repeated flooding made the original riverside site untenable for the Poor Clares. Construction began in 1649, with the community relocating their convent by 1677. This **seventeenth-century monastery** became the new home for the remains and cult of Queen Saint Isabel, whose monumental tomb continues to anchor the site as a significant place of religious and royal devotion.
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