Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Velha
Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Velha
Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Velha
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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Top ways to experience Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Velha
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
671 reviews
Excellent
369
Very good
247
Average
42
Poor
8
Terrible
5
h_mor
Coimbra, Portugal85 contributions
Jun 2012 • Family
Ruins+ new museum + nice view to Coimbra = charming place
Written June 13, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rob d
Deurne98 contributions
Nov 2017 • Solo
You can visit the remains of the old cloistre, visit collection of artecats and see a short movie about the Moseiro. Now what I recommend is that you first see the movie (15 minutes) and after that visit the remains outside. The movie shows the history of the Mosteiro, from the foundation untll the time the sisters abandoned the place and the river destructed it. It makes your walk around in the ruins much more directed and the whole place comes more alive that way.
Written November 19, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephen P
Plymouth, UK140 contributions
Apr 2018 • Friends
Went here and paid 4 euros to get in, you start by looking at a few displays with an informative book telling the history of the place and items that they have found. You then go out side and you can walk around the kitchen garden befor you go to the ruins of the church and the attached convent. Very interesting and worth the money.
Written April 11, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MarKno
Lisbon, Portugal96 contributions
Aug 2017 • Couples
The Santa-Clara-a-Velha Monastery was recently restored, it opened its doors in 2009.
The history of the monastery is eventful. The monastery was founded by D. Mor Dias. She was a noble lady who was touched by the ideas of poverty preached by S. Francisco (Assisi) first and later adopted by the Order Of Santa Clara. There was a lot of infighting in the Catholic church which ended in 1311 with the closing of the monastery (except for the hospital). But then Queen D. Isabel got the permission from the Pope to start all over again an order of Santa Clara in Coimbra. She had the church built on the grounds of the old monastery, the remains of which we can visit today.
The monastery and church were built on the left border of the river Mondego and became victim of repeated inundations so much that the main floor of the church had to be lifted. At the original level they then buried the deceased nuns. Today the church and the cloister are well restored and give you a good idea of the impact of this architectural reconfiguring.
Next to the monastery grounds a modern museum is built showing a lot of objects found during the restoration work. It also explains the rules of the order and tells how the nuns were living… and there I was really shocked: in principle a nun of the Order of Santa Clara could not have any possessions but D. Mor Dias decided first not to become a nun and second to keep all her belongings and…heritage. Also I read that the nuns could even have slaves…What a religious hypocrisy!
Interesting visit. Recommendable.
The history of the monastery is eventful. The monastery was founded by D. Mor Dias. She was a noble lady who was touched by the ideas of poverty preached by S. Francisco (Assisi) first and later adopted by the Order Of Santa Clara. There was a lot of infighting in the Catholic church which ended in 1311 with the closing of the monastery (except for the hospital). But then Queen D. Isabel got the permission from the Pope to start all over again an order of Santa Clara in Coimbra. She had the church built on the grounds of the old monastery, the remains of which we can visit today.
The monastery and church were built on the left border of the river Mondego and became victim of repeated inundations so much that the main floor of the church had to be lifted. At the original level they then buried the deceased nuns. Today the church and the cloister are well restored and give you a good idea of the impact of this architectural reconfiguring.
Next to the monastery grounds a modern museum is built showing a lot of objects found during the restoration work. It also explains the rules of the order and tells how the nuns were living… and there I was really shocked: in principle a nun of the Order of Santa Clara could not have any possessions but D. Mor Dias decided first not to become a nun and second to keep all her belongings and…heritage. Also I read that the nuns could even have slaves…What a religious hypocrisy!
Interesting visit. Recommendable.
Written September 12, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ES12
Reading, UK520 contributions
Jul 2017 • Couples
We walked over the river bridge and Santa Clara -a-Velha was ahead of us. It looked as if we would get in straight away, but then found that entrance had been closed. In the distance we could see the visitor centre, so we followed the walkway across the grass which then led to a lane. We eventually arrived at the visitor centre. There is an excellent exhibition in the museum. You then have to walk back to the monastery, but it is certainly worth it. The old monastery had to be abandoned after it became flooded by the river. At one time only the top of the museum was visible, a lot of silt had to be removed to uncover the rest of the monastery. This monastery was the original burial site of Queen Isobel. Her body had to be removed to the new monastery. It was a really interesting visit to a beautiful building.
Written July 20, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SobadaS
Lisbon, Portugal65 contributions
Dec 2016 • Family
Full with history I recommend that you see the documentary ( movie) before you visit the ruin. Queen Isabel and Ines de Castro lived on this monastery
Written December 28, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ben B
ontario, canada179 contributions
Aug 2016 • Couples
An old monastery or convent, built centuries ago and then completely abandoned (and partially underwater) between the 1880s and early 2000s.
This site can be incorporated into a nice walk from the downtown centre of Coimbra, with good access from the main bridge. The entrance takes a bit of work to find and could be better identified: just keep an eye out for the subtle signage. It costs only 4 euros to enter and we agreed that was eminently reasonable given what a fascinating attraction this is.
There is a museum / interpretation centre with a 15-minute explanatory movie plus display of artifacts related to the site. Here I would have liked to learn more about the site's recent history (since 1800) and also about the flooding that made it so difficult to use and ultimately led to its abandonment. But the items that are there are worth checking out before walking down to the actual main site.
You can walk right in to an area that was underwater for more than a century and where the waters helped preserve ancient features. There are tombs, tiles, gargoyles, bits of graffiti, etc. Old wells, garden beds, and waterworks have been preserved -- its an entrancing stroll through the arches and pillars of the old monastery. Highly recommended as a 2-hour excursion. Photos can't do justice to the atmosphere of this place.
This site can be incorporated into a nice walk from the downtown centre of Coimbra, with good access from the main bridge. The entrance takes a bit of work to find and could be better identified: just keep an eye out for the subtle signage. It costs only 4 euros to enter and we agreed that was eminently reasonable given what a fascinating attraction this is.
There is a museum / interpretation centre with a 15-minute explanatory movie plus display of artifacts related to the site. Here I would have liked to learn more about the site's recent history (since 1800) and also about the flooding that made it so difficult to use and ultimately led to its abandonment. But the items that are there are worth checking out before walking down to the actual main site.
You can walk right in to an area that was underwater for more than a century and where the waters helped preserve ancient features. There are tombs, tiles, gargoyles, bits of graffiti, etc. Old wells, garden beds, and waterworks have been preserved -- its an entrancing stroll through the arches and pillars of the old monastery. Highly recommended as a 2-hour excursion. Photos can't do justice to the atmosphere of this place.
Written August 4, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
alice l
Coimbra, Portugal61 contributions
Mar 2014 • Friends
This little part of Santa Clara in not to be missed and there is no excuse as parking is easy with its own car park and many surrounding streets. The exhibition centre/films is very interesting but the real star of the show is the Mosteiro itself with surrounding renovations, quite stunning, and so much to see. If going in the summer, it will be HOT, so hat and water are recommended. Also take the time to walk around the streets and take in a café/bar/restaurant or 2 as well. I recommend a visit to Portugal in Miniature whilst in the area - it is not just for kids!
Written April 17, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sara C
Figueira da Foz, Portugal37 contributions
May 2013 • Family
De only problem I had was the weather. I really like the tour I had there but visiting Coimbra in the middle of summer isn't easy. You have to be prepared for the heat. Take a hat and some water if you plan to visit Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Velha in the middle of the day because you'll be spending some time outside specially if you're with a guide. And ask questions, it has an interesting history.
Written April 13, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Manager82
Manager827 contributions
May 2013 • Friends
This Monastery is also a museum that was considered the best of Portugal and the best of Europe... You can walk from city center and visit many good spots until you arrive there. On Sundays you dont pay :)
Written May 29, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bonjour. Qu'avez vous trouvé d'extraordinaire à ce monastère ? Comment sont les jardins ?
Written October 26, 2024
É um bom passeio para pessoas idosas, em relação a acessibilidades?
Written November 27, 2017
Desculpe. Não prestei atenção e vi que sua pergunta se refere ao Mosteiro de Santa Clara "A velha". minha resposta anterior tem a ver com o Mosteiro "Novo".
Em relação a este não há qualquer problema de acesso ou dificuldade de chegada.
Peço desculpas pela confusão.
Written November 28, 2017
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