Coimbra buying blow

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Coimbra buying blow

But the now-capital of the Centre region is also very much about the university. It opened here in , giving this Portuguese city a deep academic vein. While you certainly spend a lot of your 36 hours in Coimbra looking at historic monuments of the past, this small student city feels very much alive in the present. This tiny tavern or tasca tucked down a laneway is an essential stop on any Coimbra itinerary. Go early and queue — there are only six or seven small tables inside. Find more wise advice on my where to eat in Coimbra guide. Some of the buildings actually pre-date the opening date, including the former royal palace that was gifted to the university in the 16th century. On this quiet but sunny February weekend we were paired with the brilliant Julien, and no one else joined us. The great halls of the old palace are magnificent with hand-painted ceilings and gold leaf galore. PhD students have to present and defend their thesis in the biggest hall to an academic audience dressed in robes. Covered floor to ceiling in intricately hand-painted tiles and ornate wooden balustrades, with a brightly painted ceiling and a mega Iberian organ, this is a serious work of art. After the palace and the chapel we visited the third key site at the university — the Joanina Library. Stepping inside the space is like Beauty and the Beast in real life. Three huge rooms with two-storey-high ceilings cascade onto one another. Each room is completely ringed by two levels of wooden bookshelves painted deep hues of red, green and blue and decorated in gold leaf. On the shelves are books from the 16th to 18th centuries, which students can still take down and read at oversized ornate wooden tables. The coolest fact? All that paper attracts bugs, but a small family of hungry bats live in the library and keep insects under control. After exploring the magnificent history of the University of Coimbra, pop around the corner to Loggia , a modern nothing-special rooftop bar set within the Machado de Castro Museum. The best date night restaurant in Coimbra must be Refeitro da Baixa. This gorgeous little restaurant shares the space with the last ceramic factory in Coimbra which has apparently been open since Fado in Coimbra is different to Lisbon. Then out came Francisco with his string Coimbra-style Fado guitar. Pedro V is not far from downtown. Here lie the bones of kings. Afonso Henriques and D. Sancho I. The main church is ringed by a beautiful ribbed ceiling, baroque blue-and-white tiles, and another magnificent organ built around Read more about this history here. The waiter ran over with huge oven mitts grasping a bubbling terracotta pot loaded with our dark, rich goat stew. To reach the beautiful Botanic Garden without climbing up and over the steep Coimbra hill via the university, we decided to cut a longer lap around the city. On the way you pass via a number of gardens and sights. The first is Jardim de Manga with the incredible yellow fountain. Enter the arch of Jardim da Sereia to admire the 18th-century playground with a stunning baroque fountain and two round tile panels. Wander around the huge greenhouse and admire the sculpted garden before sloping downhill through the forest. Among the 13 hectares there is one entirely dedicated to a bamboo forest. Beautiful manicured gardens dot both sides of the riverfront, the perfect peaceful start or end to any day. This three-star Art Deco hotel sits in an iconic spot on the Coimbra waterfront, and while its greatest days and big parties are behind it, the place is very special. I treated us to a Superior Room, which meant staying in the curved corner of the flat-iron style building. Very cool! With antique furnishings and views of the river and city, it was one memorable spot to spend the night for our 36 hours in Coimbra. Driving takes around 2 hours. You could also book a coach service like Flix bus or Rede Expresso. Coimbra is a minute drive from Porto. Questions about how to spend a weekend or 36 hours in Coimbra? Leave me a comment below…. Enjoyed this article? Support my work and buy me a coffee to say thanks! Take me there, take me there, now! So full of feeling and energy. I love these posts, Daniela. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. To help others explore Portugal, I write deep stories about Portuguese traditions, regional dishes, local artisans, and sustainable fashion and ceramics. Daniela shares free Portugal guides and articles to help travellers go deeper and explore further. Subscribe to my newsletter and receive the latest stories once per month. This post may contain affiliate links. Contents Toggle. March 5, Daniela Sunde-Brown. I'm an Australian travel and food writer who has called Lisbon home since Share this post:. Related Posts. How to spend 48 hours in Porto. Now searching for images of the Joanina Library. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. To help others explore Portugal, I write deep stories about Portuguese traditions, regional dishes, local artisans, and sustainable fashion and ceramics — buy me a coffee —. Instagram Twitter Facebook. Latest Posts. Where to eat in the Algarve. My favourite tascas in Lisbon: Where to eat traditional Portuguese food. Your love letter from Portugal. Enter your email. About daniela. Search Search. This website contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase via a link. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more. Join the list. Sign Up. No thanks.