Statue of St Catherine of Alexandria (patron saint of philosophers), by Fray Cipriano da Cruz, 1725-30, in the Sao Miguel Chapel, or St Michael's Chapel, designed in Manueline style 1517-22 by Marco Pires and completed by Diogo de Castilho, on the site of a 12th century chapel in the University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. In the chancel is the Mannerist altarpiece, designed by Bernardo Coelho in 1605 and made by sculptor Simon Mota, with paintings by Simon Rodrigues and Domingos Vieira Serrao. The chapel was renovated in the 17th and 18th centuries, with Manuel Ramos making the pulpit in 1684, ceiling painted by Francisco F de Araujo, tiled floor added 1613, Baroque organ with 2,000 pipes built 1733 by Fray Manuel de Sao Bento, and Gabriel Ferreira da Cunha painting chinoiserie elements in 1737. The University of Coimbra was first founded in 1290 and moved to Coimbra in 1308 and to the royal palace in 1537. The building is listed as a historic monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Picture by Manuel Cohen
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