Sé Velha De Coimbra (Old Cathedral of Coimbra)

Coimbra’s first cathedral is called “Old” (“Velha”) because a newer church was made the city’s second cathedral in 1772 (Sé Nova do Santíssimo Nome de Jesus de Coimbra). Sé Velha De Coimbra dates from 1117, and was designed by Portuguese and French architects. It preserves much of the original Romanesque architecture. Inside, very little has changed over the centuries. Only tiles brought from Seville in 1503, Gothic altarpieces, and baroque paintings were added over time, with the highlight being the chancel’s extraordinary gilded Gothic altarpiece created by Flemish sculptors in the early 1500s. The cloisters, from 1218, were the first in Portugal to follow the Gothic style.

Hours of operation: Monday through Friday 10.00 (10:00 am) to 17.30 (5:30 pm), Saturday 10.00 (10:00 am) to 18.00 (6:00 pm), Sunday 11.00 (11:00 am) to 17.30 (5:30 pm). Plenty of parking in front.

Admission: Tickets are €2.50. No visits are allowed during Mass, which happens on weekdays at 5:30pm, at 6:30pm on Saturdays and at 9:30am on Sundays. If you ask nicely, they will let you in for free to access the Euro cent machine.

Machine 2 is inside the main entry on the way out to the cloister in the hallway. Cost to press: €1.05 each design (€1 coin and a 5 Euro cent coin). Design has a beaded border:
1. (H) Front facade of the old Cathedral building with 'Sé Velha Coimbra'.

Machine 1 - Retired design was:
1. (H) Coimbra city skyline behind the Ponte de Santa Clara bridge with 'Coimbra'.

G.P.S. coordinates: Latitude: 40° 12' 31" N Longitude: 8° 25' 38" W
Google Maps coordinates: 6H5F+G5 Coimbra, Portugal

March 31, 2025. The machine is rolling a well centered excellent image on 5 Euro cent coins. MWHTH

4/19/25: Scan for machine 2 added. GSY