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Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova

Baroque monastery high on the slope of the left bank of the Mondego, built to replace Santa Clara-a-Velha, which suffered constant flooding. Work began in 1649 to a design by the Benedictine João Turriano, and the church was consecrated in 1696. The church, with a single nave and in the Mannerist style, has gilded altarpieces; in the high altar one is the silver and crystal urn that holds the body of Queen St Isabel. In the lower choir is her first tomb, from 1330, brought from the old monastery. The two-storey cloister, from 1733, is partly attributed to Carlos Mardel and was financed with funds from John V. Outside there is a terrace with a statue of the saint and wide views of Coimbra. It is a National Monument. You get there by crossing the Santa Clara bridge, passing Portugal dos Pequenitos and climbing the Calçada de Santa Isabel.

Things to do at Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova: 4 missions

• Climb to the terrace with the statue of St IsabelStep out onto the outdoor terrace, find the statue of the saint and look towards the old town across the river.
• Walk the two-storey cloister of 1733Stroll along the two galleries of the cloister and look at its arches and proportions.
• Find the silver and crystal urn of Queen St IsabelIn the church, find the high altar altarpiece where the silver and crystal urn with the queen's body is kept.
• Find the Gothic tomb of 1330 in the choirGo down to the church's choir and look for the queen's first tomb, brought from Santa Clara-a-Velha.

Near Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova

Source: Web oficial - Turismo de Coímbra