Ingreja de Santa Cruz

Ingreja de Santa Cruz translated in English as Santa Cruz Monastery is one of the oldest buildings as it has been around since the 12th Century. The monastery is still standing on Praça 8 de Maio in Coimbra from the year 1131, for the order of the Saint Augustines. Little  of the original pieces of the building remains, as it has some restorations done to it in the 16th century. 

The monastery holds  historical and cultural significance. Till today, this monastery remains one of the most important churches in the country. Within the walls of this great historic infrastructure, lay the remains of the first two kings of Portugal.  Which are Afonso Henriques (the conquer) and Sancho I (the populator), making the Igreja de Santa Cruz a National Pantheon. 

Visitors who make it to the altar are greeted by these tombs facing each other in a mirror angle. Surrounding the kings’ tombs are statues that represent nobility, bravery and great qualities of a leader. The tombs designs are very detailed showing features such as veins and fingernails. 

The main facade

Ingreja de Santa Cruz has walls lining with Azulejo tiles that have paintings that tell of key events in Portugal. Some of the tiles seem to be missing and broken due to the church being flooded by the overflow of the Mondego river. Blue tiles of different shades now fit in the missing tile spaces  giving the walls a blue ascent view. Another wonderful piece to behold inside the church is the great Japanese ornate designed organ with 4000 pipes and it requires 4 people to play it.

There is no monument facing the congregation of the church because this monastery is dedicated to all the saints and as such welcomes all and sundry who would love to see, learn and take in some of the prides and relics of Portugal.