São Miguel Chapel

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São Miguel Chapel or Saint Michael's Chapel (Capela de São Miguel, also called "Capela da Universidade de Coimbra" - "Coimbra University Chapel") is a chapel of the University of Coimbra in Coimbra, Portugal.

[edit] History

The chapel was planned by Marco Pires between 1517 and 1522. Simão Ferreira made the lamp of this church in 1597 and the cup between 1601 and 1602.

In 1684 Manuel Ramos did the pulpit. In 1733 the chapel receives its organ. In 1737 painter Gabriel Ferreira da Cunha made the "chinoiserie" in the organ and in 1739 completes its construction.

[edit] Uses

The chapel is a tourist attraction of the university old quarter in upper Coimbra. It has a choir, Coro da Capela da Universidade de Coimbra, that performs in the church. Although Coimbra University teaching and administrative staff has priority, São Miguel Chapel rents its spare time and space to any person outside the university community and is a popular place for catholic weddings in the town, even among couples with loose or absent connections to the university itself.