Designation
College of Jesus and New Cathedral
Current occupation
Science Museum, Cathedral of Coimbra, Department of Earth Sciences and Department of Life Sciences
Propriedade
University of Coimbra, Diocese of Coimbra
Art-historical characterisation
In 1772, as part of the profound reform of the University of Coimbra and taking advantage of the fact that the Colégio de Jesus had been vacant since the expulsion of the Jesuits from Portugal in 1759, new functions were assigned to the building, which was then completely transformed with the construction of new, large spaces around three of the pre-existing courtyards. Modern and functional, the building reveals a solid program with a strong classicist language. Highlighting the pedagogical and scientific nature of the Pombaline Reform, the various rooms include the amphitheatres, where theoretical classes used to be held before the practical and experimental lessons. Its current museum and bibliographic collection bears witness to the progress of scientific studies throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.
Today, the Colégio de Jesus houses part of the Science Museum of the University of Coimbra, some of the University's tourism facilities - such as the ticket office - and also some classrooms used by the Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra.
The church, built along with the rest of the college's facilities, was opened for worship in 1640, although with parts still unfinished, such as the main chapel. A century and a half later, in the context of the Pombaline Reform, following an order from the Marquis of Pombal and with the support of D. Francisco de Lemos, rector of the University and future bishop of Coimbra, the old church of the Colégio de Jesus was transformed into the new seat of the diocese, a function it still performs today, which explains why Coimbra has two churches known as Sé, the Old, or original, and the New, in the former Colégio de Jesus.
This transfer responds not only to better performance of the cathedral's functions, which were already unfeasible in the old cathedral, but also ensuring that the Jesuits would not return to their old premises, in the event of a change of government. To better accommodate its new functions, the new cathedral received some renovations, such as the enlargement of the main chapel, the reinstatement of the stalls and the relocation of the pipe organs.
