Coimbra (pronounced Queenbrough) sits on the banks of the Rio Mondego and has two parts, the lower and the upper. The top of the city is where the UNESCO-listed university is located and covers a large area, this is where the main sights are.
Coimbra was Portugal’s capital between 1139-1255, before it moved to Lisbon. The university is the oldest and most prestigious in the country.
The city is covered with steep cobbled lanes and alleys, where small electric buses hurtle down. The city is also renowned for guitar playing and Fado music and singing.
Patio das Escolas – a vast square surrounded by 16th-18th century buildings: the Biblioteca Joanina, Capella de Sao Miguel, Torre de Universidade, Paco das Escolas – housed in a former royal palace.
Tiles from 1500-1600
