Coimbra History
Fascinating Coimbra holds a special place in the hearts of all the Portuguese.
Rich in its history and is the oldest seat of learning in Portugal with a
University founded on the 13th of August in 1290 by King Dinis. This makes it
one of the oldest in the world. Coimbra was liberated from Moor occupation in
1064 and was then developed as a town by the capable Conde de Sesmundo who was
the master here for 27 years. Six of Portugal’s Kings were born here and between
1139 and 1256 it was the chosen capital of the country. The name of this city
during the Roman period was Aeminium, and but it later developed under the
influence of the greater nearby town of Conimbriga. This latter place is now an
important archaeological site of great interest with a museum to display the
findings from the diggings. At first sight the town appears more devoted to
commerce than learning but the skyline above the lower part of the city suggest
its real purpose.
Coimbra Description
Originally built in the 12th Century, the Sé Velha is one of the best examples
of Romanesque churches in Portugal. The Sé Nova was built at the turn of the
16th Century by the Jesuits to demonstrate their growing strength within the
country. The charming and elegant 16th Century Museu Nacional Machado de Castro
was formerly the Bishop’s Palace and is now the depository of some of Portugal’s
finest sculpture. On display is a mixture of other items including ancient art
and up to the 20th Century. In an underground maze of linking Roman passages it
exhibits items from that all the periods. The visually interesting 12th Century
Mosteiro de Santa Cruz has been added to at various times and within is the tomb
of the first King of Portugal, Afonso Henriques. The 16th Century addition of
the Claustro do Siléncio is a fine example of a Manueline cloister. Two of
Portugal’s most revered Queens were temporary laid to rest in the 13th Century
Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Velha. They were Santa Isabel and the tragically
murdered Inês de Castro. The Claustro de Santa Clara-a-Nova was constructed in
the 17th Century to re-house the nuns from the often-flooded older Convent. It
became the final resting-place of the remains of Queen Santa Isabel who is most
revered as a Saint. Her preserved corpse is on display in a structure behind a
glass frontage.
Many churches are worth visiting in Coimbra, especially from the 12th Century.
Igreja de Santa Cruz is a church that was later altered in the 16th Century to
its present fine example of Manueline carved architecture work. Coimbra also
boasts the largest Botanical Garden in the country which covers 20 hectares. The
University buildings have over time been generally replaced and the main
buildings tend to have been constructed or re-constructed in the early 18th
Century. Within the students library of Biblioteca Joanna there is an amazing
collection of over 300,000 books dating from the 12th Century. A private
collector and his home after whom the Casa Museu Bissaya Barreto is named,
presents an impressive collection of decorative tiles, period paintings,
sculptures, and porcelain objects, especially from the Comphania das Índias.
Next door to the Convento da Santa Clara-a-Velho is a park dedicated to the
enjoyment of smaller children. Here, all the most important buildings,
monuments, and typical homes in Portugal have been reproduced on a much smaller
scale and providing a "period toy town".
In tradition of a distant past, the students by wearing colour ribbons which
they attach to their gowns, indicate to which faculty to whom they belong. Every
year in May when the academic year ends they ceremonially burn these ribbons and
a enthusiastic celebration takes place. This event is called, "Queima das Fitas".
The students also reflect their optimistic attitude to life and culture by
singing a lighter and happier version of their very special traditional songs
that are generally referred to as "Fados de Coimbra".
Coimbra Nearby Locations
To the east of Coimbra are the towns of Lousã and Góis, both of which are worth
visiting to see the architectural buildings and feel the serenity that the towns
emit. This is in complete contrast to their turbulent histories that both towns
have suffered throughput history To the north is first the town of Penacova that
dates back to about 1105, and then there is the Parque do Buçaco, a monastic
centre from the 6th Century. This later acted as a residential retreat
commissioned by Dom Carlos in 1889. It was converted this century into a luxury
hotel maintaining its original furnishings and style. Close by again to the
north are the Spa towns of Luso and Curia that both provide hotels and sports
activities for their guests.
To the south of Coimbra is the town of Condeixa-a-Nova with its 17th to 19th
Century palaces and manor homes. Just south of here are the Roman ruins of
Conimbriga, the largest unearthed archaeological find of its kind in Portugal.
The site was in existence in about 2.000 BC, and in the era of the Emperor
Augustus in 25 BC the settlement really flourished. This area has many
interesting aspects for visitors including the Grutas da Lapinha. Lying to the
west of Coimbra is the once fortified town of Montemor-o-Velho. Nobody has
managed to ascertain its age with opinions differing between 4.000 and 2.400
years old as an important stronghold over the Mondego valley. Beyond this town
and on the coast is Figueira da Foz, a popular holiday resort town with a 16th
Century fort. To the northeast is the small charming town of Santa Comba Dão
that dates back to the 10th Century. It has become more known as the birthplace
of both Alves Mateus and Oliveira Salazar, the first being a renown preacher and
the second the 20th Century dictator of Portugal. The area is mainly residential
and contains typical examples of period homes through the ages besides having a
15th Century church.
Coimbra Map (Click Here)
Coimbra Weather
     
Coimbra Information
800 296 296 - Support to Tourists
112 - SOS
808 208 208 - Railways (CP)
239 857 500 - Town Hall
239 822 121 - Fire Brigade
239 827 766 - Police
239 400 401 - Hospital da Universidade
239 832 591 - Tourist Office
Coimbra Golf
| BOM SUCESSO
| BOTADO | CAMPO REAL |
CURIA |
PRAIA DEL REY | QUINTA DO BRINCAL |
VIMEIRO |
Coimbra Events
April/May - Feira do Livro (Book Fair)
May - Feira Medieval
May - Festival da Queima das Fitas
June - Festival dos Santos Populares
July - Festa da Rainha Santa Isabel
1st week July - Festa da Cidade
4th July - Town Holiday
August - Feira das Cebolas
Coimbra Locations of Interest
Teatro Académico Gil Vicente Theatre
Boca de Cena Theatre
Escola da Noite Theatre
Academic Museum
Museum of Home of Bissaya
Museum and Laboratory of Anthropology
Museum and Laboratory of Mineralogy and Geology
Museum of Natural History of University of Coimbra
Museum of Physics
Museum of Sacred Art
Museum of Urban Transport
Museum of Water
National Museum of Science and Technique
National Museum Machado de Castro
Arch - Porta de Almedina
Botanical Garden
Botanical Institute
Cathedral - Sé Nova de Coimbra
Cathedral - Sé Velha de Coimbra
Centre of Visual Arts
Chapel - Capela de São Miguel
Church - Igreja do Carmo
Church - Igreja da Graça
Church - Igreja de Santo António dos Olivais
Church - Igreja de Santa Cruz
Church - Igreja de São Bartolomeu
Church - Igreja de São Salvador
Church - Igreja de São Tiago
Colégio da Graça
Convento de Santa Clara-a-Nova
Garden - Jardim da Manga
Home - Casa-Nau
Library - Biblioteca Joanina
Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Velha
Municipal Casa da Cultura
Mosteiro de Celas
Palácio de Sobre Ribas
Pavilhão Centro de Portugal
Quinta das Lágrimas
Seminário
Square - Praça do Comércio
Square - Pátio das Escalas
Square - Praça 8 de Maio
Tower - Torre de Anto
Coimbra Beaches
Praia da Costa de Lavos
Praia da Cova Gala
Praia da Figueira da Foz
Praia de Leirosa
Praia do Palheiro
Praia de Quiaios
Praia do Relógio
Praia da Tocha
|








 |