Old Cathedral of Coimbra (Sé Velha de Coimbra)

Old Cathedral of Coimbra (Sé Velha de Coimbra)

Old Cathedral of Coimbra (Sé Velha de Coimbra)
4.5
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  • bluebay06
    La Spezia, Italy2,128 contributions
    A well-preserved cathedral of the time of the Reconquista
    The old cathedral of Coimbra was built in the 12th century when the capital of Portugal was in this city. In Romanesque style, this cathedral probably replaced an earlier cathedral of which nothing is known, and was used for the coronation of the king of Portugal. From the time of the Reconquista to now little has been changed with modest additions in the Renaissance style that have not altered the original style. Like the cathedral of Lisbon, this too has a fortress-like appearance perhaps determined by the situation of long-standing belligerence existing in those times. Even the hundreds of sculptured capitals, all without human figures, are a clear consequence of that period in which Christianity and Islam fought but also influenced each other.
    Visited November 2022
    Written January 5, 2023
  • jaimeelsabio
    Maryland4,318 contributions
    Worth a short visit
    We spent maybe 30 minutes in the church. The cloister is like so many others in hundreds of churches throughout Spain and Portugal. A church going back to the time of the re conquest. If walls could talk. Entrance was 2.5€ cash only.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 9, 2023
  • Pedro Miguel
    Lisbon, Portugal2 contributions
    From the outside, it looks like a castle, but the interior is completely different.
    It was recommended by the guide on our free tour. It really deserves a visit. The entrance is cheap and the cloister is beautiful and peaceful. The main altar is a true work of art. We jusst regret that we didn't have a lot of time to visit because we had to leave back to lisbon.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 5, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Jules060617
Lausanne, Switzerland1,339 contributions
Sep 2022
The Old Cathedral in Coimbra looks rather like a fort on the outside, probably because it was built at a time of Moorish incursions. Inside there are some very fine works of art, foremost amongst which is the spectacular main altar, a work by the Flemish artists Olivier de Gand and Jean d'Ypres (Flemish painters were an important influence at that time), and the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, a work of the French sculptor Jean de Rouen (he was a major influence on Portuguese sculpture). While it has been remodeled, there are still Romanesque influences, notably the capitals and there is beautiful end 13th century Cloister. A must see for any visitor to Coimbra
Written October 9, 2022
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.

bluebay06
La Spezia, Italy2,128 contributions
Nov 2022
The old cathedral of Coimbra was built in the 12th century when the capital of Portugal was in this city. In Romanesque style, this cathedral probably replaced an earlier cathedral of which nothing is known, and was used for the coronation of the king of Portugal. From the time of the Reconquista to now little has been changed with modest additions in the Renaissance style that have not altered the original style. Like the cathedral of Lisbon, this too has a fortress-like appearance perhaps determined by the situation of long-standing belligerence existing in those times. Even the hundreds of sculptured capitals, all without human figures, are a clear consequence of that period in which Christianity and Islam fought but also influenced each other.
Written January 5, 2023
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.

Malgorzata
12,113 contributions
Jul 2020
Old Cathedral of Coimbra was built in 1162 and is one of the most characteristic monuments of Romanesque architecture in Portugal. From the outside, it looks like a fortress. The cathedral has been preserved almost intact to this day. On the other hand, the beautiful renaissance gate added to the northern wall of the temple is rather heavily damaged. A gem of architecture. It's definitely worth seeing while in Coimbra.
Written April 9, 2021
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.

Vadim
Murmansk, Russia26,562 contributions
Feb 2020
The cathedral reminded me of the churches of southern France. There, too, you won`t understand: the church in front of you or still a fortress. By the way, maybe that's why the cathedral was quickly built on the site of the church destroyed by the Moors: starting in 1164 and ending in 20 years. a very short time for cathedrals. It should be understood that Portugal didn`t have personnel at that time and the cathedral was built by French architects Robert and Bernard. Moreover, Robert also worked on the Lisbon Cathedral. It's like a conveyor belt. But the Cathedral of Coimbra remained the only Portuguese Romanesque cathedral, unlike Lisbon and others, thoroughly rebuilt. The main feature of the Romanesque style of the cathedral is the large number (300) of capitals (tops of columns). If Romanesque artists under the influence of Byzantium did not use plant and geometric images in the capitals, but tried to depict animals and people, then here on the contrary. This is due to the fact that mozarabe (converted Christians) were building the Cathedral. They are not used to portraying people, because it is forbidden in Islam. The cathedral has not escaped subsequent influences, but they are present in fragments. Gothic is present in several tombs and most importantly in the cloister. The cloister is very large and part of the hillside was demolished to build it. Renaissance elements are also present in the cathedral. The Gate of Hope-Porta Especiosa was built in the 1530s by the French sculptor Joao de Rouen. He also created a magnificent retable with the image of Jesus and the apostles in the southern apse 30 years later. And, of course, the decoration of the cathedral is the main Renaissance altar created from 1498 to 1502 by Flemish artists Olivier de Gand and Jean d'Ypres.
Written January 6, 2021
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.

BrakiWorldTraveler
Belgrade, Serbia17,664 contributions
Jun 2022
Likewise the capital's Se, this is the oldest Cathedral in Coimbra. It's set beneath the University square plateau. However the first appearance was bad due to heavy construction works going on all around it.
It's a 12c Romanesque edifice with a fortress like exterior. Interiors, paying a few Euros are interesting to see, but skippable if you saw the Lisbon's as are pretty much the same.
Written August 2, 2022
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.

Pedro Miguel
Lisbon, Portugal2 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
It was recommended by the guide on our free tour.
It really deserves a visit. The entrance is cheap and the cloister is beautiful and peaceful.
The main altar is a true work of art.
We jusst regret that we didn't have a lot of time to visit because we had to leave back to lisbon.
Written October 5, 2023
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.

jaimeelsabio
Maryland4,318 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
We spent maybe 30 minutes in the church. The cloister is like so many others in hundreds of churches throughout Spain and Portugal. A church going back to the time of the re conquest. If walls could talk. Entrance was 2.5€ cash only.
Written September 9, 2023
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.

Nicole S
Boston, MA36 contributions
Sep 2022
A nice place if you have less than an hour to kill (which includes taking lots of pictures). Similar to Lisbon's somewhat plain cathedral, there isn't a whole lot to take in, but there are some pretty chapels to see. There's English descriptions scattered around the church and a small cloister.
Written November 1, 2022
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.

h_mor
Coimbra, Portugal86 contributions
Jun 2012 • Friends
In a Romanesque style this is the Coimbra's Cathedral.
Tiles show us Islamic influence and the high altar Retable is magnificent ancient art.
Written June 15, 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.

Miguel F
Porto, Portugal18 contributions
Apr 2019
Hard to get there by car, specially due to the narrow streets and lack of parking. Try and park downtown and walk uptown (about 15min walk). For those who may find it excessive a tuc-tuc ride will take you there in 5. The walk up to the monument is just as interesting as the monument since this is the oldest part of the city. The monument is a nice example of romanesque architecture with a gothic cloister. Worth a visit.
Written December 30, 2019
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.

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Old Cathedral of Coimbra (Sé Velha de Coimbra)

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