Convento de Santa Clara-a-Nova

Coimbra


On the west side of the river, this imposing convent was built in the 17th century to replace the original Convento de Santa Clara-a-Velha, which often suffered flooding. It's devoted almost entirely to Queen Isabel (Coimbra's patron saint), whose remains are encased in a silver casket above the altar. Paintings along the aisles illustrate her life story. Also of note is the convent's attractive 18th-century cloister.