2-376-739 - Samuel Magal/Sites & Photos/Heritage Images

The Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha, Coimbra, Portugal, 2009. View of the ruined cloisters. The monastery was built in the 14th century on the left bank of the Mondego river, but had to be abandoned in the 17th century due to frequent floods. The well-preserved Gothic ruins of the monastery were excavated in the late 20th century, more than 300 years after being abandoned by the nuns.