Convento de São Francisco

In the centre of Coimbra, the Convento de São Francisco is a reminder of the city’s religious past. Founded in the seventeenth century and dissolved in the nineteenth, it has been restored as a cultural centre, where the church and cloisters now host exhibitions, concerts and events.

From convent to cultural centre

The convent was founded in the seventeenth century and belonged to the Franciscan order until the religious houses were dissolved in 1834. After many years of other uses, the complex was restored and adapted as a cultural space, preserving its church, cloisters and monastic rooms.

What to see

• The convent church and its cloisters.
• Temporary exhibitions and cultural events.
• The restored monastic buildings and courtyards.
• The centre of Coimbra, with the university and the old town a short walk away.

Visiting the convent

The convent is in the centre of Coimbra. Access depends on the programme of exhibitions and events, so check the official website before your visit.

Visitor information: cm-coimbra.pt.

Image credit: Convento de São Francisco, Coimbra, by Hugo Ferreira, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.