Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
&
Zarco Monument
(
Church
A coffin-shaped box at the
eastern end of the lower choir is
a replica of the monument that
once stood in the main church
over Zarco's grave
(see p15)
. It
was moved in 1762 because
priests kept tripping over it.
*
Calvary
The public part of the church
is covered in decorative 17th-
century carpet tiles of great
intricacy. The magnificent silver
tabernacle on the altar dates
from 1671.
)
Monuments
At the back of the church,
the stone sarcophagus resting
on crouching lions marks the
grave of Zarco's son-in-law,
Martim Mendes de Vasconcelos
(d.1493). Zarco himself (who
died in 1467 -
see pp14, 36
) lies
buried in front of the high altar,
but his tomb slab is hidden
beneath a modern wood floor.
The large painting of the cru-
cified Christ at the west end of
the lower choir served to remind
the nuns that their hardships
were as nothing compared with
his sufferings. Even more poign-
ant is the realistic 17th-century
wooden statue of Christ laid in
the altar below, as if in his tomb.
Santa Clara Church
Top 10 Dates in
Santa Clara's History
1 1476: convent founded
2 1493: church completed
3 1497: nuns move in
4 1566: nuns flee pirates
5 1671: tabernacle unveiled
6 1736: choir stalls carved
7 1797: artists paint church
8 1834: Portugal bans
religious orders
9 1890: last nun dies
0 1927: school founded
Santa Clara Convent is surrounded by high walls, built
to shield the nuns from prying eyes, and to keep
them focused on their religious duties without the dis-
tractions of the outside world. In the past, the only
part of the convent open to the public was the
church, with its magnificent silver tabernacle, dating
from 1671, and its marble-and-gold altar. Because of
its beauty and serenity, Santa Clara Church is a very
popular choice for weddings.
Bell Tower
The minaret-like bell
tower reflects the cultural
influence of Moorish
Seville, where the tiles
decorating the onion-
shaped dome were made.
High altar with silver tabernacle, Santa Clara Church
17
