Category: Nature > Garden
District: Coimbra > Coimbra > Coimbra > Santa Clara
The Gardens of Santa Clara-a-Velha Monastery are located in the city of Coimbra, specifically in the Santa Clara area, on the left bank of the Mondego River. Its position, isolated within the urban landscape, offers a serene and picturesque setting, allowing for a visual connection with the historic city rising on the opposite bank.
This green and archaeological space is inseparable from the history of Santa Clara-a-Velha Monastery. Over the centuries, its location by the Mondego River was a constant challenge, with floods repeatedly submerging the monastic structures. This particularity led to successive elevations of the original floor level and, eventually, to the abandonment of the convent. Today, the gardens and the ruins integrated within them tell a story of remarkable resilience, with a water containment system keeping the site preserved, allowing visitors to explore an environment where nature and the past intertwine.
Strolling through the gardens, one discovers a spacious leisure area and an outdoor path that embraces the ancient monastic structures. These paths invite a peaceful exploration of the foundations and vestiges of what was the daily life of the Poor Clare nuns. It is possible to observe the marks of the cloister, the structure of the Gothic church, and the archaeological elements that have come to light, revealing details of convent life. The presence of old flowerbeds and references to olive and peach trees on the site underscore the original connection of this space to the land and contemplative life.
The site is deeply connected to the figure of D. Isabel of Aragon, the Holy Queen. It was through her initiative that the Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha gained its definitive form in the 14th century, becoming a center of religious life and charity. The Holy Queen, known for her devotion and works of mercy, retired here after being widowed, and the monastery accommodated her wish to be buried on this site. The gardens, as an integral part of this historical complex, serve as a testament to the presence and influence of this royal and revered figure, lending the space a particular symbolism.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 40.20319825378126, -8.432424058999569
Coordinates DMS: 40°12'11.5"N 08°25'56.7"W
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