New Cathedral of Se Nova (Se Nova de Coimbra) description and photos - Portugal: Coimbra (Topic)

New Cathedral of Se Nova (Se Nova de Coimbra) description and photos - Portugal: Coimbra. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Se Nova de Coimbra.

Photo and description

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.

It should be noted that architectural trends in the construction of churches in Portugal influenced the architecture of buildings in the colonies of the country. So, 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 Se Nova facade 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.

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Topic: New Cathedral of Se Nova (Se Nova de Coimbra) description and photos - Portugal: Coimbra.