Santa Cruz Church

The Church of Santa Cruz is a historic gem in the heart of Coimbra, combining Gothic and Baroque architectural styles. Founded in 1131, it is the resting place of Portugal's first two kings, Alfonso Henriques and Sancho I.

The interior impresses with a wealth of decoration, including carved stalls dating from 1518 depicting scenes from the Age of Discovery and Baroque tile panels illustrating episodes from Portuguese history.

The church organ, with 4,000 pipes, is among the oldest working organs in Portugal, and the cloisters, including the Cloister of Silence, are considered the purest examples of Manueline architecture.