Transept Dome, Coimbra, Portugal
Sé Velha, or the Old Cathedral, is a Romanesque church dating to the late 12th and early 13th centuries when Coimbra was still the capital of Portugal. Instead of a dome, a Romanesque lantern-tower surmounts the transept crossing. The tower windows are one of the main sources of natural light in the cathedral. Sé Velha is the only Portuguese cathedral built during the Reconquista era which has survived relatively intact.
The origins of Saint-Sauveur date to the 5th century. It has been enlarged, modified, and renovated through the Romanesque, Gothic, Neo-gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque periods. This melding of periods is evident on the facade, though not well captured in this image.
The Nave and the Apse
The Baptistry
The base of the walls date to the 6th century. The columns are said to be from a Roman temple. The dome is a Renaissance addition. The paintings in the niches depict the seven sacrements. Clergy are buried beneath the floor.
Chapel of the Sacred Heart
Triptych of the Burning Bush, by Nicolas Fromant, 15th Century
Unfortunately, the altarpiece is rarely opened. The outside is still lovely and worth seeing.
The Cloister
The Cloister is open only with a guided tour. The schedule is posted on the door.
Of Note
Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist, Romanesque stained glass window, Musée de l’Œuvre Notre-Dame (Cathedral Museum), Strasbourg, France.
Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist, Romanesque stained glass window, Musée de l’Œuvre Notre-Dame (Cathedral Museum), Strasbourg, France.
Jennifer’s 2017 Color Your World Challenge: Fern
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