Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Velha

This was interesting and cool to see and walk around. We had a bit of a hard time finding the entrance- it's quite far from the actual site- in the very stark building you can see across the grass and walkways. There's a little history video to watch inside there first.

The Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha is a hauntingly beautiful glimpse into Coimbra’s past. Partly submerged for centuries by the Mondego River, its restored Gothic ruins tell stories of resilience and devotion. Walking among the arches feels like stepping into another time.

Very interesting and well worth visiting. If you are walking to it don’t give up when you reach the ruins and everywhere seems to be closed. There is a long walk from the ruins to the visitor centre and not many signs, but keep going and you will get there. You are aiming for the long low building and the entrance is on the opposite side to the ruins.

As Patrícia and I continued our Rota de Inês e Pedro, we found ourselves at the Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Velha, a hauntingly beautiful ruin that sits by the banks of the Mondego River. This ancient Gothic monastery, intertwined with the same tragic romance we had been tracing through our journey, felt like a quiet echo of the past. Constructed in the early 14th century by Queen Isabel of Aragon, it was a place of refuge and contemplation for the nuns of the Order of St. Clare. But its proximity to the Mondego, while initially advantageous, led to centuries of flooding, making life unbearable for its inhabitants. These cyclical floods, which repeatedly submerged the cloisters and church, ultimately forced the community to abandon it in the 17th century . The floods, however, have left behind more than just ruins—they’ve woven a certain melancholic charm into the stones. Wandering through the vast cloister, the largest Gothic cloister in Portugal, we felt the weight of history. Archaeological excavations have revealed a wealth of artifacts, now housed in the Interpretative Centre, offering a glimpse into the lives of the nuns who once walked these same halls . What makes this place truly unique, though, is the Paço Real, where Queen Isabel lived, and the fact that it’s one of the rumored locations of Inês de Castro’s murder. Standing on these grounds, it’s easy to imagine the tense political atmosphere that surrounded Pedro and Inês’s love . Today, the site has been lovingly restored, and its intricate Gothic architecture shines through despite its turbulent history. The sense of time passing—slow, steady, and sometimes violent—is palpable here. The center’s permanent exhibition adds another layer, presenting everyday objects from the nuns’ lives, which makes you feel like you’re stepping into another world . For us, the visit was both contemplative and surreal. Walking through the cloisters and ruins, we couldn’t help but reflect on how this site, like the love story of Pedro and Inês, has endured despite the many forces trying to erase it. Tip: Don’t miss the Interpretative Centre—seeing the artifacts helps piece together the history, and the view of the river from the ruins is particularly striking at sunset .

Wonderful experience. The monastery is very well kept, you can see that maintenance work is being done. The staff is friendly and professional, they make you feel at home. I recommend the visit if you happen to be in Coimbra.

I really enjoyed my visit! Entry was €4. I love ruins, so it was really fun to walk inside the semi-restored monastery. Most of the exhibits were in Portuguese so I got most of the value out of just seeing the ruins. The entrance is on the far side of the monastery which is slightly inconvenient.

This place is good start before Santa Clara Nova…recommendations to watch a 15 min movie about history of the place. Worth every penny! Go for it!

Museum allows access to a walkway where you can view the ruins of the monastery but it doesn't allow you to come inside of it. Entrance is a bit tricky to find too - you have to go around the whole area before getting to it. There's an exhibit you can also view and a documentary that we didn't get to watch since the wait time is too long. I recommend skipping it if you don't have a lot of time visiting Coimbra.