Clara Saint/Santa Clara

Convent of Stª. Clara-a-Nova

It was initiated its construction in 3 of July of 1649 e, in 1677, only is that the nuns if had moved for the new edificio. The church alone was ready in 1679, being the cult made in a hall.
The inward has only one covered ship. The headboard is formed by great ábside where polícroma of Saint is the statue Isabel sculptured for Teixeira Lopes (century XIX) and the tomb of silver that contains the body of the Queen Saint.
In retábulo cuts are seen baroque. The allusive screens to the life of the Queen Saint are of the first half of century XVIII. In the sidewalls one meets retábulo of golden and policromadas cuts with low-relives.
In the side of the choir they are two góticos tombs. The tomb of the left side (of century XIV) is of princess D. the Isabel, son of D. Afonso IV and of the right side, he is of a son of regent D. Peter.
The tomb of the Queen Saint is bigger and was made by Pero Master (Catalan) in the beginnings of century XV.
In the choir-high one, we find objectos of cult and alfaias of silver of the convent, for beyond the cadeiral with 78 chairs distributed for two floors, dated of the first half of century XVII. In the sidewalls, they are some come retábulos of the old convent.
Claustro, of great dimensions, was elaborated by arquitecto Carlos Maudel in century XVIII. It possesss excellent nivel architectural and quality of execution.



Convent of S. Francisco

Situated in sopé of the hill of Clara Saint. Its construction was initiated in 1602, following the maneirista type of the city. In 1609, she was busy for the franciscanos until the a liberal revolt in century XIX.
The modest façade is the only point of interest of the edificio.
During wide years a plant of wool manufacturing functioned there. Currently, the edificio is used to advantage for cultural events.






Convent of Stª. Clara-a-Velha
The path of Clara Saint is situated in the left margin of Rio Mondego.
The religious house was established by D. Mor Dias, in century XIII. One constructed to a small church and other modest installations. In century XIV, D. Isabel de Aragão (married with king D. Dinis), it improved the monastery and it patrocionou the construction of a new building and new installations for the nuns. The church was sacred in 8 of July of 1330.
Later, one was constructed claustro, a privative room to capitulate, paços for the queen and a hospice.
In 1331, the full ones of Rio Mondego had reached the edificio.
The body of the edificio is divided in three ships and these in seven we tramos. High double openings and three rosettes allow the input of the light.
In century XVII, in the high floor an arc was construido to lodge the tomb of D. Isabel de Aragão, the Queen Saint. The convent was abandoned in 1677, height where the nuns if had moved for the new situated edificio in the high one of the south hill of the Mondego.

BACK to Coimbra