Sunday, 11 July 2010 00:00
The European Commission and Europa Nostra have announced 29 winners from 15 countries for the 2010 Edition of the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards. In the Conversation Category the Monastery of Santa Clara-A-Velha in Coimbra is an Award Laureate. This unique Awards program highlights some of Europe’s best achievements, and showcases remarkable efforts made in safeguarding Europe’s rich architectural, landscape, archaeological and artistic heritage. Each year, the European cultural heritage community and its supporters turn their attention to the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards. Proudly celebrated annually since 2002, the ceremony showcases the greatest achievements in maintaining and preserving Europe's shared cultural heritage. Santa Clara was founded in the 1280s and Queen Isabel, whose good works led to her canonization in 1626, lived in the convent. Because of its location close to the river, the church was repeatedly flooded. By 1647 King D. Joao IV ordered the nuns to a new convent named Santa Clara-a-Nova high on a hill. The Gothic church was abandoned and as the centuries passed, it sunk into the river mud and became a charming ruin. The resorted site opened 1 year ago.
Portugal National Tourist Office