Description of the attraction
The new Se Nova Cathedral is located next to the historic building of the University of Coimbra, in the upper part of the city. Currently, Se Nova is the seat of the episcopal see, where the bishop of the city of Coimbra conducts services.
The new Cathedral was originally the Church of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in the city of Coimbra. The Jesuits appeared in the city in 1543. In 1759, the Jesuit Order was abolished by the Marquis de Pombal, Prime Minister of King Jose I of Portugal. In 1772, the episcopal see was moved from the Old Cathedral of Se Velha to a larger and more modern Jesuit church building.
It is worth noting that the architectural trends in the construction of churches in Portugal influenced the architecture of buildings in the colonies of the country. For example, the facade of the former 17th century Jesuit Church of St. Salvador in colonial Brazil has much in common with the facade of the Jesuit Church in Coimbra.
The facade of Se Nova has niches in which there are statues of the four saints of the Jesuit order. The Baroque decoration of the upper part of the facade contrasts with the lower part, made in a rather austere Mannerism style. The church is decorated with two towers with bells and a dome. Inside, the church has one nave with several side chapels and a transept. Both the transept and the main chapel of the apse are decorated with magnificent and majestic wooden altarpieces from the 17th and 18th centuries with carved gilding, which are excellent examples of the so-called "national" style in altar art in Portugal. The side chapels of the nave are decorated with Baroque and Mannerist altars. The 17th century singing places were moved from the Old Cathedral, as was the beautiful stone baptismal font from the early 16th century.
