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123:. The site of the foundation proved to be unsuitable, as the monastery was repeatedly invaded by the waters of the river in the following centuries. The nuns of the monastery responded by elevating the floor levels of the monastic buildings to reduce the damage caused by the floods. In spite of the problems, the monastery was frequently enriched by donations. In the early 16th century, under
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cleared the mud and water from the ruins, which were found to be in a remarkable good state of conservation. The excavations allowed for the recovery of a large number of architectural and decorative fragments and a better understanding of the monastery plan. In 2006 the building of an interpretation
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The works sponsored by the Queen started in 1316 on the same spot of the previous foundation and gave rise to the ensemble that exists today. The first architect associated with the monastery was
Domingos Domingues, who had worked on the cloisters of the
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Around 1612, as the river flooded the monastery every year, the nuns built an elevated pavement in the church halfway to the roof. Finally, in 1647, as the frequent floods made life in the monastery impossible,
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of the church has three chapels of polygonal shape, the central chapel being the largest. The central chapel has lost its stone roof and used to be illuminated by three windows.
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A portal on the South façade of the church connects it with the cloister ruins, which have been preserved up to the level of the double columns of the arches. The
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The nave used to be divided in two parts, one of public access and the other reserved for the nuns, separated by a dividing wall. An elevated
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monastic foundations in
Portugal, which usually used wooden roofs over the nave. Another influence of Alcobaça is seen in the vault types:
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and many other architectural details. Elizabeth died in 1336 and was buried in the monastery in an impressive Gothic tomb. A large
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ruins of the monastery were excavated in the late 20th century, more than 300 years after being abandoned by the nuns.
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of the church of the
Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha. The main chapel in the middle of the façade lost its stone roof
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During the centuries the monastery and church were decorated with religious works of art that are now dispersed. The
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ordered the nuns to abandon the structure. The last nuns left the ensemble in 1677, as a new monastery, called
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are decorated with vegetable motifs. Also visible are the remains of a Gothic fountain with a circular basin.
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As the centuries passed, the old monastery fell into ruin and became partially covered by the marshes of the
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The ruined church recently reopened to the public after 12 years of restorations with a new visitor center.
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centre and new tours were estimated at 27 million euro and the project completed in April 2009.
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in 1626. The palace of the Queen, of which only ruins remain, was located near the monastery.
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108:. The church was consecrated in 1330 and shows the influence of the Alcobaça building in its
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84:. This early monastery was dissolved in 1311, but in 1314 it was refounded by
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of the church of the
Monastery of Santa Clara reveals the influence of the
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Already in 1331 the monastery and church had been flooded by the nearby
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was built to the south side of the church within the same 14th century.
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of the nave also resembles Alcobaça. The nave is illuminated by tall
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in the museum testify to the wealth and prestige of the monastery.
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of
Coimbra was founded in the 1280s by Mor Dias as a house of the
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View of the ruined cloisters and South façade of the church with
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245:. Unlike Alcobaça, the church of Santa Clara lacks a prominent
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Christian monasteries established in the 13th century
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The excavations also revealed the foundations of the
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Religious buildings and structures completed in 1330
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Site with photos of the
Monastery in 1993 and 2004.
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General Bureau for
National Buildings and Monuments
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377:Portuguese Institute for Architectural Heritage
369:Portuguese Institute for Architectural Heritage
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36:(Old St. Clare) are located in the city of
352:Article on the Correio da Manhã newspaper.
297:in Coimbra. Painted altarpieces include a
233:in the side aisles. The structure of the
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307:and a painted triptych commissioned to
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197:Saint-Clara-a-Velha monastery, Coimbra
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241:windows of Gothic design and three
454:Poor Clare monasteries in Portugal
449:Roman Catholic churches in Coimbra
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303:of circa 1486 about the life of
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34:Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha
284:Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova
166:Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova
459:Tourist attractions in Coimbra
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464:Ruined abbeys and monasteries
318:. Others pieces of sculpture
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131:tiles and several painted
420:40.2027556°N 8.4334389°W
334:Monastery of Santa Clara
295:Machado de Castro Museum
82:Order of the Poor Clares
425:40.2027556; -8.4334389
290:sculptor Mestre Pero.
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207:Monastery of Alcobaça
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102:Monastery of Alcobaça
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213:has a nave and two
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20:View of the church
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90:Denis of Portugal
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32:The ruins of the
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231:groin vault
144:rose window
133:altarpieces
78:Santa Clara
72:Middle Ages
438:Categories
360:References
148:bell tower
340:Footnotes
288:Aragonese
239:mullioned
223:mendicant
203:floorplan
129:Sevillian
110:floorplan
328:See also
315:in 1517
311:painter
299:triptych
265:capitals
247:transept
219:vaulting
114:cloister
309:Flemish
278:Artwork
235:columns
67:History
38:Coimbra
215:aisles
46:Gothic
254:choir
189:Ruins
258:apse
211:nave
201:The
146:and
57:apse
28:Plan
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