Sometime in the middle of the 12th century, the first King of Portugal, Afonso Henriques, and the Bishop Miguel Salomão, led the construction financing of this Romanesque cathedral. Built to replace the older cathedrals in the area of which nothing remains and little is known, the Se Velha quickly became important. The second King of Portugal, King Sancho I, was interred here. Though the Cathedral received various additions over the centuries, it never lost the essentially Romanesque look, making it a national treasure. Notably, the Cathedral looks like a menacing fortress.

Highlights of the church include:

• The 16th century Renaissance-style Porta Especiosa on the north facade
• The crenellated walls with narrow windows
• The buttresses stabilising the church against the slope of the hill
• Romanesque-Gothic transitional cloister
• Romanesque-Baroque lantern tower over the transept
• Decorated capitals on the interior columns
• Nearly 400 Romanesque era sculpted capitals with Arab and pre-romanesque elements
• Gothic tombs
• Large 1502 Flamboyant Gothic wooden retable in the main chapel
• 16th century Renaissance altar by Nicolau Chanterene in the chapel of Saint Peter
• 16th century Gothic-Renaissance baptismal font

The seat of the bishopric was transferred to the New Cathedral of Coimbra (Sé Nova de Coimbra) in 1772.

• No visits during religious service.
• Group visits must be booked beforehand with time, date and number of people.

• EUR 2.50 donation is suggested.

Mass:

• Monday - Friday: 6pm
• Saturday: 7pm
• Sunday - 10pm

• Drive to Praça da República and park there.
• Walk to here.

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