Category: Religious Architecture > Monastery
District: Coimbra > Coimbra > Coimbra > Baixa
Located in Coimbra, the Monastery of Santa Cruz is one of Portugal's most significant monuments, both for its history and its art.
Founded in 1131 by the Order of the Canons Regular of St. Augustine, with the support of the first kings of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques and D. Sancho I.
It houses the tombs of D. Afonso Henriques and D. Sancho I, the first two kings of Portugal. The tombs are decorated in Manueline style.
Classified as a National Monument since 1910, standing out for its historical and architectural relevance.
The artistic interventions, especially during the reign of D. Manuel I, transformed the monastery into an example of the Manueline style, with an elaborate facade and richly decorated interiors.
The monastery had one of the best medieval schools in Portugal, with a vast library, now in the Porto Municipal Public Library. The "scriptorium" was fundamental for the consolidation of royal power in the time of D. Afonso Henriques.
The future Saint Anthony of Lisbon studied at the monastery and decided to follow a missionary life after witnessing the arrival of the remains of the Martyrs of Morocco in 1220.
Between 1507 and 1513, King D. Manuel I ordered the reconstruction and redecoration of the monastery and the church, including the translation of the remains of the first kings to new Manueline tombs.
Between 1530 and 1577, a printing workshop operated in the cloister. It is possible that the poet Luís de Camões studied here.
, Facade: With lateral towers and a decorative parapet added during the Manueline reform.
, Interior: Single nave and chancel with Manueline vault, high choir with carved stalls and Renaissance pulpit.
, Baroque Organ: Installed in the 18th century, with a carved case by Francisco Lorete.
, Tiles: Nave walls decorated with white and blue tiles from the 18th century.
The tombs of the first kings are decorated with sculptures by Nicolau Chanterene and other artists, including many Gothic-Renaissance elements and Manueline symbols.
The Mannerist sacristy has 17th-century tiles and works by Grão Vasco and Cristóvão de Figueiredo. The Chapter Room, built by Diogo Boitaca, includes a chapel dedicated to São Teotónio.
, Cloister of Silence: With Manueline decoration and a 17th-century fountain.
, Manga Cloister: Isolated from the monastery, it preserves a central Renaissance fountain of great artistic value.
Recognized as a National Pantheon in 2003 due to the presence of the tombs of the first kings of Portugal.
Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosteiro_de_Santa_Cruz
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 40.21091889941637,-8.428953013059282
Coordinates DMS: 40°12'39.3"N 08°25'44.2"W
Weather Coimbra
On-duty Pharmacy Coimbra
