Let’s clear something up, just because it’s called Nova, or “new,” doesn’t mean this cathedral has nothing to offer. Inaugurated in the 17th century, the Sé Nova de Coimbra originally served as the headquarters of the Jesuit order in Coimbra. Despite their deep interest in the teachings of the nearby university, the Jesuits were expelled from the city in 1759 by the Marquis of Pombal. He wanted to curb their economic power and growing influence over state affairs. Fifteen years later, the building became the official seat of Coimbra’s diocese, replacing the older Romanesque cathedral, the Sé Velha. The building is strongly reminiscent of the Church of the Gesù in Rome. Its façade, delicately carved in a blend of classical and baroque styles, features a tiered arrangement of columns and pediments. You can go inside for a small fee, where you’ll find a single nave, presided over by a choir whose wooden stalls were brought in from the old Romanesque cathedral. With that, you can check off another major stop in Coimbra’s upper town!