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Tourist Attractions in Coimbra

Rich in tradition, the old University town of Coimbra (altitude: 75-100m/250-330ft), principal town of its own district and the see of a bishop, lies halfway between Lisbon and Oporto in the hilly country of Beira Litoral.
Read More Old University
The Old University is set tightly among other buildings but offers beautiful views from the south side terrace. Also of interest are the 16th C University Church and the Old Library.
Read More Convento de Santa Clara-a-Velha
All that remains of the 13th C Gothic Convent of Santa Clara-a-Velha are the sunken ruins.
Read More Convento de Santa Cruz
The former Augustinian monastery of Convento de Santa Cruz contains the tombs of early Portuguese kings.
Jardim Botânico
Go through the Porta Férrea and straight on to the Praça de Dom Dinis then down the steps and under the 16th C. aqueduct to arrive at the entrance to the Jardim Botânico, the botanic gardens, commissioned by Marquês de Pombal and laid out in terraces on the slopes of a side valley of the Mondego, with large numbers of subtropical plants.
Hours
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open8:008:008:008:008:008:008:00
Close18:0018:0018:0018:0018:0018:0018:00
Tips
Admission cost for greenhouses only.
Read More Museu Nacional de Machado de Castro
The Museu Nacional de Machado de Castro, located in the old Bishop's Palace, contains a variety of items, from Roman antiquities to paintings by modern Portuguese artists.
Read More Old Cathedral
The 12th C Old Cathedral is a rather austere looking church from the outside but contains an impressive Romanesque interior.
Portugal dos Pequenitos Parque
Opposite the old Santa Clara Convent can be found Portugal dos Pequenitos, a miniature village established in 1940, with reproductions of the country's most important buildings and of typical homes and buildings from the former colonies. The garden setting makes a visit here enjoyable for adults as well as children.
Address
Portugal dos Pequenitos Parque
Santa Clara
Coimbra
Portugal
Hours
March 1 to May 31
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open10:0010:0010:0010:0010:0010:0010:00
Close19:0019:0019:0019:0019:0019:0019:00
June 1 to September 15
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open9:009:009:009:009:009:009:00
Close20:0020:0020:0020:0020:0020:0020:00
September 16 to February 28
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open10:0010:0010:0010:0010:0010:0010:00
Close17:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:00
Always closed on:
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Disabled
Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
Read More Praça do Comércio
This lovely square is the old town market. Today street cafes greet tourists and artisans inhabit the nearby homes.
Arco de Almedina
The Upper Town is reached on foot by turning south down the Rua Visconde da Luz and then turning left, beside number 75, through the Arco de Almedina. The arch is a relic of the Moorish town walls. The Gothic two story tower built over it in the 15th C. was occupied by a municipal court in the 16th C. and now houses a Museum of Ethnography.
Arco de Almedina was named in the period when Portugal was ruled by arabs in the 11th C.
Condeixa
Condeixa, 15km/9mi southwest of Coimbra, has some fine palaces, including the 17th C. Palácio dos Lemos.
Modern University Buildings
To the south of the Largo da Feira, within the area once occupied by the castle, are the imposing modern buildings of the University; to the east the Faculty of Medicine, adjoining it on the right the Faculty of Arts, with a small archeological museum, and the library (Biblioteca Geral).
The Universidade de Coimbra is one of the oldest educational establishments in Portugal.
Address
Universidade
Paço das Escolas
3004-531 Coimbra

Portugal
Hours
April 5 to September 30
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open9:009:009:009:009:009:009:00
Close19:3019:3019:3019:3019:3019:3019:30
October 1 to April 4
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open9:309:309:309:309:309:309:30
Close12:3012:3012:3012:3012:3012:3012:30
Open14:0014:0014:0014:0014:0014:0014:00
Close17:3017:3017:3017:3017:3017:3017:30
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Paco de Sobre-Ripas
North of the Arco de Almedina in the Rua de Sobre-Ripas is the 16th C. palace of the same name which has a fine Manueline portal.
Penedo da Saudade
Northeast of the Jardim Botânico is Penedo da Saudade, traditionally a meeting place for the students but above all a superb viewpoint.
Quinta das Lágrimas
About 1km/0.5mi east of the Convento de Santa Clara-a-Velha along the Rua António Augusto Gonçalves is Quinta das Lágrimas, the "villa of tears", where Inês de Castro is said to have been murdered in 1355. The Fonte dos Amores, the "lovers' fountain", in the park recalls her tragic love story.
Town Hall
The whole of the north wing of the Convento de Santa Cruz is now occupied by the town hall, the Câmara Municipal.

Coimbra Surroundings

Picture of Conimbriga
Read More Conimbriga
The old Roman town of Conimbriga dates to between the 2nd C B.C. and A.D. 468. Excavations of this large ancient town have revealed the ruins of homes, baths, and monuments.
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