Erected in the 17th century, the Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova is a milestone in the history of Coimbra and a testament to human ingenuity in the face of adversity.

It was built to replace the old Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha, which was frequently affected by the flooding of the Mondego River.

Life in the old monastery had become so unsustainable that King John IV decided to sponsor the construction of a new convent, located on a higher elevation and safer from flooding: Mount Hope.

The work was completed in 1696, housing the Poor Clares and the mortal remains of Queen Saint Isabel, patron saint of the city, which rest there to this day.