Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Velha
Gothic national monument of the 14th century, excavated and partly submerged, with an interpretation centre on the history of the monastery and the Poor Clares (closed for works).
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The monastery was founded at the end of the 13th century by Mor Dias, a noblewoman of Coimbra, for a community of Poor Clares. After a dispute with the Monastery of Santa Cruz, the convent was suppressed in 1311, and Queen Isabel of Aragon obtained papal authorisation to refound it in 1314. Construction began in 1316, with Domingos Domingues as master builder, and the church was consecrated in 1330. With a Romanesque appearance on the outside, it is a Gothic church with a stone vault and polygonal apses.
The River Mondego flooded the site several times from 1331 onwards, and the nuns raised the level of the floor and eventually lived in the upper storeys. In 1677 they moved to the new Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova, on the Monte da Esperança, and the old complex came to be called Santa Clara-a-Velha. It was then used as a dwelling, a warehouse and a cattle pen, and was partly covered by sediment.
A restoration project began in 1991 and archaeological excavations took place between 1995 and 2000, bringing to light the lower church and the cloister. The interpretation centre, covering about 1,000 m², opened on 18 April 2009 and displays objects that belonged to the nuns, such as porcelain, faience, rosaries and rings. The monastery has been a national monument since 1910 and has been closed since 20 October 2025 for works funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR).
Highlights
- Gothic church founded by Queen Isabel of Aragon, with rose windows and tall windows
- Cloister and lower church excavated by archaeologists
- Interpretation centre with objects of the Poor Clares
- National monument since 1910
- Guided visits by booking
Permanent exhibition
- Centro interpretativo do Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Velha – Exhibition on the history of the monastery and the Poor Clares, with objects recovered during the excavations, such as porcelain, faience, rosaries and rings.
- Founded
- 2009
- Operated by
- Museus e Monumentos de Portugal
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €4 |
|---|
Standard price stated by the Direção Regional de Cultura do Centro before the closure; to be confirmed on reopening.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
The interpretation centre has a shop and an auditorium.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Guided visits by prior booking. |
