Blending seamlessly into the colourful buildings around it, the Mosteiro de Santa Cruz is one of Coimbra’s oldest and most important landmarks. It was founded in 1131 under the Canons of the Order of Saint Augustine and by Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal. As well as housing the most influential monastic community in the kingdom at the time, the monastery soon became a powerhouse of medieval learning, educating intellectuals and political figures. Later, during the reign of King Manuel I, the complex underwent major renovations to restore its ageing structure. With the help of Portugal’s finest artists, the original church, cloister, and chapter house were given a new life. At the same time, the king commissioned new monumental tombs for Portugal’s first two monarchs. The first is Afonso Henriques. Deeply devoted to the monastery throughout his life, he chose it as his final resting place. The second is his son, Sancho I. Without that grand renovation campaign, the Mosteiro de Santa Cruz wouldn’t be the masterpiece we see today. Its centrepiece is the breathtaking 15th-century Manueline entrance, named after the creative style that flourished under King Manuel I. If you want to pay the entrance fee, make sure to admire the blue-and-white tilework, the Cloister of Silence, the sacristy paintings, and the preacher’s pulpit. Like any true landmark, every detail is worth a look!