Location: Coimbra
Top Things to do in Coimbra
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The 8 Best Architectural Buildings in Coimbra, Central Portugal
Coimbra (Portuguese pronunciation: [kuˈĩbɾɐ, ˈkwĩbɾɐ]; Proto-Celtic: *Corumbriga)) is a city and a municipality in Portugal. The population at the 2011 census was 143,397, in an area of 319.40 square kilometres (123.3 sq mi). The fourth-largest urban centre in Portugal (after Lisbon, Porto, Braga), it is the largest city of the district of Coimbra, the Centro region and the Baixo Mondego subregion. About 460,000 people live in the Região de Coimbra, comprising 19 municipalities and extending into an area 4,336 square kilometres (1,674 sq mi).
Restaurants in Coimbra
1. Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Velha
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 656 reviews
Reviewed By john8tea - Fukuoka, Japan
We stumbled on the ruined Convent of Santa Clara-a-Velha late on our first afternoon in Coimbra, after walking along the Mondego river and visiting the gardens of the Quinta das Lágrimas. This 13th-century convent was strongly associated with Portugal's saintly queen, Santa Isabel, and was an important pilgrimage site during the medieval period and beyond, until it had to be abandoned in 1677 due to the river's constantly rising floodwaters. After painstaking archeological and restoration work, the ruins can now be visited. You first make your way through the small museum/information centre, with many interesting artifacts and a great deal of information (unfortunately, the explanatory notes are only in Portuguese at the moment, but if you persevere you can understand enough to get the gist). There is an absorbing documentary video shown in the auditorium and if you can catch one with English subtitles (ours was at 5.30pm) it is well worth watching, as it sets everything in a richer historical context. Then you make your way out into the ruins of the convent church and cloisters, where the explanatory notices, though few in number, are in both Portuguese and English. It is a quiet, contemplative and evocative sacred space.
2. Torre da Universidade de Coimbra
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 247 reviews
Reviewed By LuizDutraNeto - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
After crossing "Porta Férrea" and reaching the stunning "Paço das Escolas" of the "Universidade de Coimbra", you will be almost in front of this awesome clock and bell tower! Built between 1728 and 1733, by Italian architect António Cannevari, it is mostly known, among the University students, as "Torre da Cabra", as one of its four bells is nicknamed as "Sino da Cabra" (literally, the "Goat Bell" in English). The tower has always had an important role in the University life, due to the frequent sign sounds from its four bronze bells. You can even climb to its top! Climbing up may be quite "challenging", but fantastic views of the University campus and of "Rio Mondego" await you! Enjoy!
3. Seminario Maior da Sagrada Familia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 26 reviews
Nas visitas guiadas, com a duracao de cerca de 50 minutos, os turistas poderao passar pela Igreja da Sagrada Familia, pela capela de Sao Miguel, pela biblioteca velha, pela sala dos azulejos ou pelos aposentos episcopais. O espaco pode ser visitado de segunda a sabado, das 10:00 as 12:00 e das 14:00 as 18:00.
Reviewed By shackelton
We stumbled upon this Seminario after walking through the nearby botanic garden. In contrast to the crowded and rushed tours of the University, our tour here was relaxed, informative and quite enjoyable. The Seminario has only been open to the public for a couple years and has not yet been discovered by the group tours; we were the only visitors when we arrived (around 11 a.m.) and thus were lucky enough to get what amounted to a "private" tour. Our guide was excellent with a thorough knowledge of the building, its history and contents. This was well worth the 5 Euros entry fee and was a highlight of our visit to Coimbra.
4. Torre de Almedina
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 397 reviews
Reviewed By tsv01 - Aalborg, Denmark
On the way up to the square, just before you go through the arch look left. Beautiful sculpture of female in shape of Portugese guitar. Masterpiece
5. Estacao Ferroviaria De Coimbra
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1 reviews
6. Edificio Chiado
7. Porta Ferrea
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 8 reviews
Reviewed By Margo7850p
The Porta Ferrea was the most important entrance to the old medieval fortress of Coimbra, where the University was installed in 1544. The current gate was designed by Alfonso Tavares in 1633, adopting university symbols. Its outer façade is crowned with Wisdom, and below it, in a niche, we can see figure of Don Dinís, the founder of the Portuguese university, surrounded by the allegorical figures of Laws and Medicine. Passing through these characteristic gate you enter the Patio das Escolas, where the Joanina Library, Sao Miguel Chapel, University Tower, D.Joao III monument, etc. are located. A world of history, knowledge and tradition.
8. Paco De Sub-ripas
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1 reviews
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