Day trip to Coimbra
Coimbra, the oldest university in Portugal
Nested along the Mondego River, about 1 hour South of Porto by train, lies the charming city of Coimbra.
Designated as an Unesco World Heritage Site, the city has been an important political and cultural centre over many centuries, being one of the earliest seats of the kingdom and the home of one of the oldest universities in Europe, founded in 1290. Still one of the main cities in Portugal, its strong role over centuries is reflected by the eclectic mix of buildings, ranging from the Gothic to the Art Noveau styles, in a compact town centre. A strong cultural life, nurtured by the thousands of students and a strong tradition, provide many things to discover during a relaxed day visit.
Suggested points to visit:
- The low and upper town in the centre (Unesco heritage)
- Biblioteca Joanina, the ancient baroque University library, is quite impressive. It even included a prison for students 🙂
- University grounds, on the top.
- The Old and the New Cathedrals
- Quinta das Lágrimas: romantic garden with a tragic love story between a king and a noble lady.
- Next to it, the Botanical garden, a very nice park.
Getting there:
- Take the train to Espinho. Then, either take the “Intercidades” (Intercity train) to Coimbra (€14/p, 1h travel, direct train) or a combination of the Urban/Alfa trains (€17/p, 1:30h travel, with transfer in Aveiro).
- In Coimbra, the old town center goes from the river up to the university grounds. It’s perfect to wander around, in-between monuments, very old churches, nice small streets, cafes, etc. Several nice cafes offer light, diverse meals (and wines) and you might happen to hear some Coimbra fado, typically performed by students.
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