Igreja de São Tiago

Category: Monument | Place of worship

Romanesque building from the late 12th century, consecrated in 1206. Over the centuries, it underwent several transformations that completely altered the appearance of the temple: in 1546, the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Coimbra began construction of its facilities on the right nave, later expanding to other areas; in the 19th century, with the expansion of Rua de Coruche (now Rua Visconde da Luz), the apse was removed. Its current appearance is due to the intervention carried out at the beginning of the 20th century, which attempted to restore it to its “original purity.”

The reason why this church is dedicated to St. James remains a mystery. One hypothesis is that it is related to the capture of Coimbra by King Ferdinand the Great of the Kingdom of León (Spain) in 1064. According to legend, the apostle St. James appeared armed as a knight and offered the key to the city of Coimbra to the Christians. This theory is supported by the fact that the church is located relatively close to what was once the most important gate of the walled city, the Porta da Almedina. Another possibility is that it welcomed pilgrims on their way to the shrine of Santiago de Compostela in Spain, a route that many devotees still travel today.