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Sé Nova de Coimbra

Former church of the Jesuit college founded in 1541 next to the University, on Largo da Feira. Work began in 1598 to a design by Baltazar Álvares, worship began in 1640 and it was inaugurated in 1698. After the expulsion of the Jesuits in 1759, the college passed to the University; in 1772 the episcopal seat moved here from the Sé Velha, which is where the 'new' comes from. It has been a National Monument since 1910. The sober façade shows four statues of Jesuit saints: Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, Francis Borgia and Aloysius Gonzaga. Inside it has a single nave with a barrel vault, side chapels and a crossing with a dome and lantern. The large gilded carved altarpieces of the crossing and the main chapel date from the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The choir stalls and the Gothic-Manueline baptismal font next to the entrance come from the Sé Velha, work from the early 16th century.

Things to do at Sé Nova de Coimbra: 4 missions

• Identify the four Jesuit statues on the façadeFrom Largo da Feira, find the statues of Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, Francis Borgia and Aloysius Gonzaga.
• Look at the gilded carved altarpieces of the crossingGo inside and look at the large gilded wooden altarpieces of the crossing and the main chapel, from the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
• Look at the choir stalls of the main chapelLook at the 17th-century wooden choir that also comes from the Sé Velha.
• Find the Gothic-Manueline baptismal fontNext to the entrance is the 16th-century baptismal font brought from the Sé Velha; look at its carving.

Near Sé Nova de Coimbra

Source: Web oficial - Turismo de Coímbra