Porto Trip Overview
For lovers of stories and tradition, this tour of Coimbra and Conímbriga is a must. Discover a land of academic traditions, where Fado sings aloud. Come and explore the queen of Roman ruins in Portugal.
Right in the center of Portugal, known as the “city of students”, you will find Coimbra. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of the most historic Portuguese cities, and once was the second capital of the Kingdom of Portugal.
It is believed that it was the birthplace of Coimbra that D. Afonso Henriques.
This is a region filled with historical monuments with a strong Manueline influence in its architecture, and a symbol of academic life unique in the country: one of the oldest universities in the world.
Did you know that this is one of the richest archaeological sites in Portugal? Conímbriga originated as a Celtic city of the Conii tribe at the end of the Iron Age.
It was later occupied by the Romans, under the leadership of the famous Emperor Augustus, in the 2nd A.D.
Additional Info
* Duration: 10 to 12 hours
* Starts: Porto, Portugal
* Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
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What to Expect When Visiting Porto, Porto, Portugal
For lovers of stories and tradition, this tour of Coimbra and Conímbriga is a must. Discover a land of academic traditions, where Fado sings aloud. Come and explore the queen of Roman ruins in Portugal.
Right in the center of Portugal, known as the “city of students”, you will find Coimbra. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of the most historic Portuguese cities, and once was the second capital of the Kingdom of Portugal.
It is believed that it was the birthplace of Coimbra that D. Afonso Henriques.
This is a region filled with historical monuments with a strong Manueline influence in its architecture, and a symbol of academic life unique in the country: one of the oldest universities in the world.
Did you know that this is one of the richest archaeological sites in Portugal? Conímbriga originated as a Celtic city of the Conii tribe at the end of the Iron Age.
It was later occupied by the Romans, under the leadership of the famous Emperor Augustus, in the 2nd A.D.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Porta Ferrea, Rua de Sao Pedro 20, Coimbra 3000-370 Portugal
Entrance of the old Royal Palace to which were added, in 1634, two portals with allegorical sculptures of the ancient Faculties (Medicine, Law, Theology and Canon Law), the founding monarch, King D. Dinis, the monarch who definitively establishes the general studies in Coimbra, King D. João III, and the Sapience, the institution’s insignia.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Via Latina, R. do Norte 37, 3000-295 Coimbra, Portugal
A big colonnade built in the end of the 18th century, which name remembers the old rule that prohibited any other language to be spoken, asides from Latin, beyond that point.
At the centre, a sculptural group, by Claude Laprade, with the allegoric figures of Justice and Fortress, on which was added a sculpture representing King D. José I by the end of the 17th century.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Torre da Universidade de Coimbra, R. do Norte 23 Paço das Escolas, Coimbra 3000-295 Portugal
Symbol of the University and of the city itself, it was built during the 18th century, replacing the previous one, designed by João de Ruão (16th century). The Italian architect who designed the work, António Cannevari, added baroque aspects in italian style. The construction was overseen by Portuguese Gaspar Ferreira.
There is a small balcony at the top, with four clocks below (one on each side), joined by four bells that govern the academic life: the Cabra [goat] of 1741, the Cabrão [buck] of 1824, the Bolão [Big Ball] of 1561 and the Quartos [quarters].
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Escadas Monumentais, R. Castro Matoso Coimbra University, Coimbra 3000-104 Portugal
Due to the reforms that the building was subjected to around 1724, Gaspar Ferreira was in charge of recreating the communication ladders between the University and the public street. The work is a testimony that the whole building is dedicated to Sapience: crowning the arch of the staircase arises the baroque sculpture, evocative of Sapience, by Friar Cipriano da Cruz.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Capela de Sao Miguel, R. Dr. Guilherme Moreira 10, Coimbra 3000-210 Portugal
Former oratory of the Royal Palace, dating from the 12th century, it was subjected to major enlargement construction works during the reign of King D. Manuel I, projected by Marcos Pires and Diogo de Castilho. The port archway is an allegory to the political ideology of King D. Manuel I – he is King by divine right!
In the interior, the ex-libris of this religious space: the baroque organ, by Manuel de São Bento, decorated with chinoiserie painted in gold.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Biblioteca Joanina, Praca da Porta Ferrea Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra 3000-447 Portugal
Commonly known as Biblioteca Joanina [Joanina Library], a unique and internationally recognised work made during the reign of King João V, whose large portrait by Domenico Duprá occupies the last room of the library.
The exterior portal, in stone, is reproduced inside by marbled wood arches, each one with the symbol of the several faculties existing at that time, which delimits the great hall into three rooms.
The walls are covered with exotic wood shelves, with two floors, polychrome and decorated with chinoiserie art.
Also worth mentioning are the frescoes on the ceilings, executed in tromp l’oeil, with allegories to faculties, virtues and continents.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Prisao Academica, Largo da Porta Ferrea – Foyer da Biblioteca Geral Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra 3040-202 Portugal
Established in 1593 in the north wing of the building, it was transferred in 1773 to what had been left of the old royal jail built by King D. John I in the late 14th century, and which then served as infrastructure for the Library House.
It remained here until the extinction of the academic court, in 1832.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Se Nova Catedral de Coimbra, Largo da Feira dos Estudantes, Coimbra 3600-213 Portugal
Established in 1542 by the Jesuits, it was the first college of the order and the largest in the city. Its purpose was to prepare missionaries for all the territories discovered and conquered by the Portuguese.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Old Cathedral of Coimbra (Se Velha de Coimbra), Coimbra Portugal
When the Bishop’s seat was transferred from Conímbriga (Condeixa-a-Velha) to Æminium (Coimbra) a temple would have been built in this area. However, the only physical evidence that proves the existence of such a building dates from 1117 – a date inscribed on the church’s consecration stone.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Igreja e Mosteiro da Santa Cruz, Praca 8 de Maio, Coimbra 3001-801 Portugal
Founded in 1131, with the approval and encouragement of King Afonso Henriques, for the Order of Saint Augustine, it was the most influential convent house in the city, contributing to the cultural, economic and political development of the country.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Sao Sebastiao Aqueduct, Praca Joao Paulo II, Coimbra 3000-227 Portugal
Saint Sebastian Aqueduct, usually known as the Garden’s Arches by Coimbra’s inhabitants because it’s right at the surroundings of the Botanical Garden.
It was built around 1570 by D. Sebastião, with the aim of taking water from the town’s high to the hill that lies ahead, (…)
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Torre de Almedina, Arco de Almedina 15 Pátio do Castilho, Coimbra 3004-509 Portugal
Built on the Arch of Almedina, it had the function of guarding and defending the main access door to the interior of the wall. Its construction may be from the time of D. Sesnando (11th century), and has been reformed and remodeled several times.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Rua do Arco Almedina, R. do Arco Almedina, 3000-179 Coimbra, Portugal
It was the main gate of the medieval wall. The oldest part of the door is attributed to century IX, being initially constituted by two cubes united by an arc.
Its current aspect may be the result of a reform of the early 16th century, by order of D. Manuel I.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Igreja de Santa Justa, Ladeira de Santa Justa, Coimbra 3000-182 Portugal
The first building of the Church of Santa Justa dates back to the 12th century, and was located elsewhere. The current temple was opened in 1724.
The façade is three-storey, flat and flanked by towers.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Convento São Francisco, Av. da Guarda Inglesa 1a, 3040-193 Coimbra, Portugal
The Saint Francis Convent, situated on the left side of Mondego River, erected in the XVII Century, worked as a wool factory between 1888 and 1980.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Velha, Rua das Parreiras, Coimbra 3040-266 Portugal
Founded in 1283, by D. Mor Dias, the Monastery of Santa Clara de Coimbra was delivered to the Poor Clares shortly afterwards. Dona Isabel de Aragão, Queen Santa Isabel, took an interest in the convent, which has since become extinct, and ordered to build new buildings in Gothic style, of which the cloister and the church stand out in 1330.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova, Calcada de Santa Isabel Alto de Sta. Clara, Coimbra 3040-270 Portugal
The building is in baroque style, sober and utilitarian, dotted by turrets.
The monastic complex, begun in 1649, replaced the primitive monastery of the Poor Clares, which the Mondego River bed had ruined.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Jardim do Portugal dos Pequenitos, Coimbra 3040-202 Portugal
The Portugal dos Pequenitos, inaugurated on June 8, 1940, is a playful, educational and tourist park, idealized by Bissaya Barreto and designed by the architect Cassiano Branco. This space that is in the imagination of all the children that pass by.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Quinta das Lagrimas, Rua Antonio Augusto Goncalves, Coimbra 3040-999 Portugal
The Quinta das Lágrimas owes its name to the misadventures of the romance between the lady Inês de Castro and the prince D. Pedro. The romantic tragedy places in this place the death of the beautiful Inês.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Roman Ruins and Museum of Conimbriga, R. das Ruinas 7, Condeixa-a-Nova 3150-220 Portugal
Conímbriga is one of the largest complexes of Roman ruins in the country, proving that Coimbra was first inhabited during the 8th and 9th centuries BC . In addition to the city walls, mosaics, modern river systems, thermal baths and several buildings, a museum was built on the site containing the collection of objects found during excavations.
Duration: 1 hour
