Monastery of Santa Cruz
Mosteiro de Santa Cruz
The burial place of Afonso I, the first king of Portugal, with an exquisite Manueline portal and walls covered in blue-and-white 18th-century tiles.
The Monastery of Santa Cruz was founded by the Augustinians in 1131 and is one of Portugal's national pantheons. The church holds the carved stone tombs of the first king, Afonso Henriques, and of Sancho I. Highlights include the Manueline main portal, the 18th-century blue-and-white azulejo murals covering the walls, and the Silent Cloister. The church is free of charge, while the sacristy and cloister charge a small fee. The monastery is in the lower town on Praça 8 de Maio, right next to Café Santa Cruz.
Opening hours
Mon–Sat approx. 09:00–17:00; Sunday afternoons
Nearby sights
- Café Santa Cruz
- Mercado Municipal D. Pedro V
- Arco de Almedina & Quebra-Costas
- Fado ao Centro
- Old Cathedral of Coimbra
- Machado de Castro National Museum
- University of Coimbra – Paço das Escolas
- New Cathedral of Coimbra