Coimbra

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The University is the oldest in the country and one of the oldest in Europe and it is what converted Coimbra to the "Students' Town". However, in historical terms, the city is home to one of the most beautiful and tragic love stories of our monarchy. The romantic encounters between king D. Pedro and D. Inês are part of the Portuguese history and are linked to sights such as the Quinta das Lágrimas or the Sé Velha (old cathedral). The Mondego river is the town's companion, which reveals medieval streets and historical corners, as the Arco de Almedina arch - a very well preserved structure of the ancient wall. The Queima das Fitas (Burning of the Faculty Ribbons) is one of the most emblematic feasts of the city, in which students come out into the street in celebration, parading and followed by floats that satirize current themes. The student spirit can be discovered and felt in every corner where they meet, wearing dark clothes, and perform serenades. It is also very typical and common to hear fado coimbrão in the most typical cafés and restaurants or even on the streets of the city. A visit to the historic center reveals Baixinha, where the traditional trade is located. Pastéis de Santa Clara (sweets with egg and almond filling) and capelos (doctoral cap-shaped sweets with egg and fruit filling) are the most traditional sweets and they can be tasted in the citys' pastry shops. In addition to the Sé Nova and the Sé Velha, there are many more monuments that Coimbra hosts, such as the convents of Santa Clara-a-Nova and Santa Clara-a-Velha. Recently awarded as one of the best European museums, it is in this town that the Museu da Ciência da Universidade de Coimbra (Museum of Science of the University of Coimbra) has been built. One of the unavoidable sites, and especially for those travelling with children, is the Portugal dos Pequenitos.

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Best Of Coimbra

Portugal dos Pequenitos

Coimbra

This space features miniatures of typical houses, monuments and traditional and colonial architectural examples. The space also comprises the Clothes Museum, the Navy Museum and the Furniture Museum. A special note to the Pavilion of Brazil, with several temporary exhibitions, as well.

Hotel Dona Inês

Coimbra

Centrally located Hotel, featuring modern facilities, featuring 84 rooms (singles, doubles and suites), a restaurant, a bar and an auditorium, among other services.

Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Velha

Coimbra

The monastic set (church, cloister, and bowery) has great cultural and architectonic value. The church is an exemplar of the mendicant Gothic. Worthy of notice are the notable Hispanic Arabian glazed tiles panels, the rose-window at the occidental front and the magnificent renaissance arch that comes into view under the arch of the epistle nave.

Mosteiro de Santa Cruz

Coimbra

Monastic set with an emblematic portal. Inside are worthy of notice the manueline arched roof, the main-chapel, the sacristy, the Sala do Capítulo, the S. Teotónio Chapel and the cloister of Silence.

Porta de Barbacã

Coimbra

This arch is the best kept structure of the ancient Coimbra’s wall, which corresponded to the main entrance in the city during the Islamic period. On the arch is the sculpture of our Lady, the national arms and the symbol of the city foundation.

Aqueduto de São Sebastião / Arcos do Jardim

Coimbra

Work dated from the late XVI century, with 21 arches and a 1km length. It was constructed to bring water to the high part of the city. The building plan was made by Filipe Terzi.

Claustro da Manga / Jardim da Manga

Coimbra

This beautiful renaissant monument, by João de Ruão, was ordered by D. João III. It presents a central fountain with a dome and, around it, 4 cylindrical chapels. All the structure is built on a tank.

Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Nova

Coimbra

Work done between the second half of the XVII century and the first half of the XVIII century. The church has a choir and a main chapel. The primitive tomb of the Rainha Santa, made by Mestre Pêro, is one single carved limestone block

Igreja de Santa Justa

Coimbra

The Santa Justa Church presents a sober, traditional front. Inside, stand out the magnificent king John carving retables.

Quinta das Lágrimas Palace

Coimbra

The hotel Quinta das Lágrimas in Coimbra, offers three distinct environments: the rooms of the Palace, the garden and the SPA. Elegance and comfort are reflected in every room of this luxury space. The environment and the service of the hotel recreates the romance of centuries past, offering all the comforts of modern times. The kitchen uses the traditional products …

Edifício da Universidade de Coimbra

Coimbra

From the set stand out: the Porta Férrea, the Via Latina, the building of the former S. Pedro College, The Joanina Library, The S. Miguel Chapel, The Sala dos Capelos, the Sala de Exame Privado, the tower, the Gerais, and the Religious Art Museum.

Sé Velha de Coimbra

Coimbra

It is one of the most beautiful Romanic Portuguese monuments, with the exterior look of a church-fortress. The Cloister, from the XIII century, was the first gothic style work done in Portugal, after the Mosteiro de Alcobaça. Worthy of notice are the Especiosa Doorway, the Sacramento Chapel, both by João de Ruão, not forgetting the gothic tombs nucleus and the …

Casa-Museu Bissaya Barreto

Coimbra

Palacelike house richly decorated, with several historic collections. Here you may see Portuguese glazed tiles, china from the Companhia das Índias, statues and faience.

Tivoli Coimbra

Coimbra

A competent four-star hotel, situated in the heart of the city of Coimbra. One of the floors of the building has been completely refurbished and offers superior quality rooms, with new decoration, although the comfort prevail throughout the unit. The health club also has recently been renovated and beyond desirable indoor pool offers massage service.

Quinta das Lágrimas

Coimbra

The importance of this place is mainly connected to the history of Pedro and Inês. The Quinta has a romantic beauty, with some botanic exemplars, the gothic window and the fountain (pointed out as being the “Fonte dos Amores” sang by Camões.

Instituto de História da Ciência e da Técnica / Museu Nacional da Ciência e da Técnica

Coimbra

Place dedicated not only to the exhibition of species important to the knowledge of the science and technique history, but also to the promotion of scientific research in that area.

Sé Nova de Coimbra

Coimbra

Magnificent Jesuit temple begun in 1598. The main front, austere but elegant has two bodies from two distinct styles: classic and baroque. Inside are worthy of note the several baroque golden woodcarving altars, the organs placed on the lateral walls of the main chapel and a manueline baptistery brought from the Old See.

Parque do Choupal

Coimbra

The Choupal Woods is one of the loveliest spots in town, with quite unique plant and animal species in Portugal. The Horse Riding Centre of Coimbra is located here.

Praça do Comércio

Coimbra

In this square, one of the prettiest in Coimbra, there are the São Tiago and São Bartolomeu Churches, the Pelourinho (pillory) and 17thand 18th centuries buildings. At the area there are also several commercial establishments and esplanades and various fairs …

Colégio de São Jerónimo

Coimbra

Baroque building built in the 16th century, consisting of a plant irregular longitudinal and several bodies. Initially, functioned as a school and later as a hospital and, currently, as a Museum and as a dependency of the Faculty of letters.

Edifício do Colégio de São Pedro dos Religiosos Terceiros

Coimbra

The church with one single nave, presents a front with 3 arches, three lateral chapels, main-chapel and high-choir over the atrium. Worthy of notice are the staircase of the collegial building and its glazed tiles, the XVIII century cloister and …

Parque Verde do Mondego / Parque Doutor Manuel Braga

Coimbra

One of the loveliest city parks in Portugal, filled with gardens and luxurious trees. Located by the Mondego river, there are some statues and a nice bandstand by the architect Silva Pinto.

Torre do Prior do Ameal / Torre de Anto

Coimbra

This tower was part of the old medieval wall. After being adapted to residence, it was the famous poet António Nobre, who obtained inspiration for writing some of the poems in his most famous work.

Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Graça

Coimbra

Church with a single nave and lateral chapels. At the simple front the classic portal stands out and, inside, the mannerist wood retable of the main chapel and the baroque lateral retable are worthy of note.

Arco e Torre de Almedina

Coimbra

The Almedina arch was part of the medieval walls, going back to the XI century, as the Arabian toponym that means “the city” indicates. Nowadays it is the entrance to the ancient Coimbra, where you may observe a sculpture from …

Igreja do Palácio de São Marcos

Coimbra

Church that results form the cinquentist reform, presenting a manueline main door. Inside are worthy of notice the renassaint retable, and important tumular art set from the XV and XVI centuries, the Magi chapel, the sacristy, the chapter’s house, the …

Reserva Natural do Paúl de Arzila

Coimbra

This is a moist alluvial valley with very fertile areas, which covers the municipalities of Coimbra, Condeixa-a-Nova and Montemor-o-Velho. Includes two main areas: the protection zone and the central core, and aims to create a barrier to environmental assaults from …

Antigo Colégio de Jesus / Igreja Das Onze Mil Virgens / Sé Nova de Coimbra / Museu de História Natural

Coimbra

Building constructed in the 16th century, initially working as a College of the society of Jesus. Had a rectangular structure, with a church in the Center and four courtyards around. The various reforms over the years provided the features of …

Vila Galé Coimbra

Coimbra

Opened in April 2010, this modern hotel is located in the historic centre of Coimbra and 229 offers well-equipped rooms, having as base concept "Leasure & Conference". There is also wide areas of catering, bar, pool, SPA and Conference room.

Paço de Sobre-Ribas / Instituto de Arqueologia da Universidade de Coimbra

Coimbra

Cinquentist palace sited at the Coimbra wall, between the Almedina Arch and the Anto Tower. It includes the Casa de Baixo (Institute) and the Casa de Cima (private). Adapted from a medieval tower, it has an interior organization close to …

Percurso pela Baixa Citadina

Coimbra

This tour recognizes the area exterior to the medieval walls, where initially were established military and religious orders, by the Mondego River. Begin at the Ferreira Borges Street and follow, from the outside, the old city perimeter, the Alta. At …

Percurso pela Mata do Choupal

Coimbra

The Mata do Choupal (wood) it’s one of the most beautiful places of the city, owning a flora and fauna herd to find in any other part of the country. It has few exemplars of the trees it was named …

Percurso pela Zona Antiga da Cidade

Coimbra

The old area of Coimbra is characterized by narrow and steep streets that lead to the top of the hill, where the city was born. This tour begins at the Ferreira Borges Street, where the Almedina arch draws the boundaries …

Núcleo da Cidade Muralhada

Coimbra

Space located on the Tower of Almedina, which allows visitors to discover the medieval city of Coimbra. In its interpretive center, you can see a model of the medieval town and, on the top floor, you can get a magnificent …

Barco Turístico de Recreio O Basófias

Coimbra

The Basófias is a tourism boat that sails the Mondego river. From its deck one may view the entire area of the city on the river's banks. The travel time is 1 hour and 15 minutes. It functions as a …

Mata Nacional de Vale de Canas

Coimbra

A space with around 16 hectares, mostly with eucaliptus trees. In the summer of 2005 there was a raging fire and it is currently being reforested.

Percurso pelo Parque Verde do Mondego / Parque Doutor Manuel Braga

Coimbra

Ample green space, with leafy trees, several gardens, some statues, a lovely bandstand (from the architect Silva Pinto), benches and a half-pipe. At the time of the Queima das Fitas (a students’ party) it welcomes the Noites do Parque (Park …

Mosteiro de Celas

Coimbra

The Celas Monastery is a construction of sober character, showing the influence of several architectonical styles. At the church are worthy of notice the manueline arched roof, a 17th century glazed tiles panelling and several portals and arches with renaissant …

Parque do Choupalinho

Coimbra

The Choupalinho Park is a wide green space on the banks of the Mondego river, ideal for resting, walking or for doing sports. It is also a river port for nautical sports and, in the summer, it welcomes the Popular …

Percurso pelos Parques e Jardins de Coimbra

Coimbra

To take a walk or rest for a while, there nothing better than the tour through the parks and gardens of Coimbra. Starting at the Choupal, a shelter for students’ loves, continue to the Quinta das Lágrimas, where the tradition …

Largo da Portagem

Coimbra

Small garden-like square, with several commercial establishments around it. At the centre rises a statue paying homage to Joaquim António de Aguiar.

Fonte de Eiras

Coimbra

This backboard public fountain goes back to the D. João V period. It has a central body and two lower laterals. At the centre, over the tank, is the medieval seal of the city. On top is the national coat …

Jardim Botânico da Universidade de Coimbra

Coimbra

The Bottanical Gardens were created by the Marquis of Pombal in Coimbra. It is rather lovely and has thousand of scientifically interesting species, bothe local and exotic, besides decorative elements such as tanks and fountains. The guided tours include a …

Cruzeiro de São Marcos

Coimbra

Cross integrated on the set of the former São Marcos Convent. It has an octagonal plinth and a knot.

Capela de São Miguel da Universidade de Coimbra

Coimbra

Outside the chapel is the magnificent manueline portal. The inside is of great refinement, with the organ, the silver lamp and the cup, the glazed tiles at the main-chapel and the nave and the ceiling with “ferronerie” paintings standing out.

Igreja da Sé Velha / Túmulo de Dom Sesnando

Coimbra

Fortress Church, whose plant was influenced by the churches of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. The construction of the current Temple was begun in 1162, after the destruction of the former, in 1117, by Muslim attacks the city. In the …

Igreja de São João das Donas / Café Santa Cruz

Coimbra

Former church, that keeps its spatial structure from the manueline period. The front is an exemplar of revivalist civil architecture. Nowadays it is the Café Santa Cruz, used for cultural events.

Igreja de São Salvador

Coimbra

Romanic church with a manueline chapel, with a typology common to the final gothic, a romanic portal from 1179 and, still worthy of note, the S. Marcos and chapel retables.

Igreja de São Tiago

Coimbra

Romanic church from the last quarter of the XII century. The temple, with three naves, was sacred in 1206. It suffered transformations on the XVI, XVIII and XIX centuries. Outside the eye-window and the portal with columns and decorated capitals …

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