Top Things to do in Coimbra District
Top Hotels in Coimbra District
Countries
What to do and see in Coimbra District, Central Portugal: The Best Historic Sites
Discover the best top things to do in Coimbra District, Portugal including Museu PO.RO.S, Igreja e Mosteiro da Santa Cruz, Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Velha, Penedo da Saudade, Misericordia de Coimbra Museum, Sala dos Capelos, Palacio do Marques de Cascais, Ruinas Romanas de Bobadela, Torre da Universidade de Coimbra, Igreja Nossa Senhora dos Anjos.
Restaurants in Coimbra District
1. Museu PO.RO.S
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 49 reviews
Reviewed By smileysusan1971 - London, United Kingdom
This is by far THE BEST museum I have visited in Portugal. Even if you are not into history, you cannot but enjoy this museum and learn from it. It is a modern interactive museum, with technologies to keep you entertained, as well as Roman replicas that your can touch and feel. Well worth a visit. Not to be missed.
2. Igreja e Mosteiro da Santa Cruz
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 673 reviews
Reviewed By Margo7850p
The Church of Santa Cruz is located in the center of Coimbra, the historic center, in a very charming place. A very nice church. It was erected in the first half of the XII century. Lots to see, lots of history. The heart of the Romanesque church is an unusual altar without a statue, and two amazing tombs of Portugal's first rulers: Alphonsus I the Conqueror and Sancho I. The blue azulejos tiles are a characteristic feature of the church. The interior of the temple is decorated with a huge organ with fantastic Japanese works of art. A monastery is a real gem. A must visit if you are in Coimbra. Next to it is a square with a number of cafes.
3. 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.
4. Penedo da Saudade
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 213 reviews
Reviewed By joaob205
Hard to translate it's name, you will find yourself involved in huge roots and tablets written by old students of the city,shwing their love for her and the will to one day return
5. Misericordia de Coimbra Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 38 reviews
The Misericordia de Coimbra Museum opened its doors to the public on the 12 of September 2000, during the commemorations of the 500 years of the founding of the Misericordia of Coimbra, by order of king Manuel I. The museum occupies part of the former College of Wisdom, an university college that belonged to the Order of the Regular Canons of Saint Augustin. The building was constructed between 1593 and 1604, in manneirist style, according to the project of the italian architect Filipe Terzi. The building is enlisted in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
6. Sala dos Capelos
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 109 reviews
Reviewed By LuizDutraNeto - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
You are at the former Throne Hall of the ancient "Paço Real da Alcáçova", the royal palace of the Portuguese kings while Coimbra was their capital city! "Sala dos Capelos", most commonly known as "Sala dos Grandes Atos", was named after the "capelos" - the ornamented caps used by the doctors of the "Universidade de Coimbra" on solemn occasions. Here, the most important ceremonies of the University take place! Enjoy!
7. Palacio do Marques de Cascais
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
The Marques de Cascais Palace was the palace where the Lord of Anca used to live in the XVII century.
8. Ruinas Romanas de Bobadela
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 49 reviews
Reviewed By GraceKent
Terrific experience. Very accessible history and museum and ruins. Active archeological site with digs and discoveries going on. Museum is excellent. The coliseum is breathtaking..... This is a special opportunity.
9. 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!
10. Igreja Nossa Senhora dos Anjos
TAGS
