Sé Velha de Coimbra

Sé Velha de Coimbra also known as The Old Cathedral is the oldest church in Portugal. Since the 12th century, the year 1117, this edifice still stands. It is sitting on the Largo Se Velha street in Coimbra, Portugal. The Old Cathedral is located in a small square in the heart of medieval Coimbra, and can be reached by ascending the steps from Arco de Almedina, the gateway to the old city.  This church owes the beauty to the French (Master Robert) and Portuguese architects that designed it. This cathedral preserves much of the original Romanesque architecture, which is rare in major churches of that time around Europe and even in Portugal.

Even as old as it is, Sé Velha de Coimbra remains one of the most important landmarks in Portugal. It took over 300 years to complete the decorations and sculptures within the church. The designs within the walls of the cathedral display some cultural transition and traditions through the years of the modeling. For example, the cloisters were added in the year 1218. The highlight of the cathedral is the  chancel’s extraordinary gilded Gothic altarpiece owing their captivating structure to the Flemish sculptors of the 1500s. During the years of years of erection of this masterpiece, wonderful events were taking place in the Cathedral. For instance the coronation of the second king of Portugal, King Sancho I in 1185 happened here.

Within the walls also lay the remains of the first Count of Coimbra, the Mozarab Sisnando Davides. The most remarkable tomb is that of Lady Vataça Lascaris, a Byzantine who came to Portugal in the 14 century. Also the remains of Elizabeth of Aragon, who was to marry King Dinis I. Her tomb carries the symbol of the Byzantine Empire: a two-headed eagle. There are several tombs with laying statues along the lateral aisles, some very much eroded.

The astonishing feature of the Romanesque decoration of the Old Cathedral of Coimbra is the numerous sculptured capitals. Making the Se Velha one of Portugal’s most significant collections of Romanesque sculpture. It is also important to note that the structures inside the cathedral also display Arab and pre-romanesque influences. There are structures of quadrupeds and animals but virtually no human representations or Biblical scenes in the church.