Portugal Country Guide - Coimbra

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Two of Portugal's most revered Queens were temporary laid to rest in the 14th Century Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Velha. They were Santa Isabel and the tragically murdered Inez de Castro. The Claustro de Santa Clara-a-Nova was constructed in the 17th Century to re-house the nuns from the often-flooded older Convent. It became the final resting-place of the remains of Queen Santa Isabel who is revered as a Saint. Her preserved corpse is on display behind glass.

In the city there are many churches that also worth visiting especially the 12th Century Igreja de Santa Cruz that was later altered in the 16th Century to its present example of Manueline architecture. Coimbra boasts the largest Botanical Garden in the country which covers 20 hectares. The University buildings have over time been generally replaced and the main body tends to have been re-constructed in the early 18th Century. The students library Biblioteca Joanna is an amazing collection of over 300,000 books dating from the 12th Century in which it was founded.

Next door to the Convento da Santa Clara-a-Velho is a park dedicated to the enjoyment of children. All the most important buildings, monuments, and typical homes in Portugal have been reproduced in a much smaller scale making them an entertainment in themselves.

From the distant past the students still indicate the faculty they belong to by the color of a ribbon they attach to their gowns. Every year in May when the academic year ends they ceremonially burn these ribbons and duly celebrate. This event is named "Queima das Fitas". The students also reflect their optimistic attitude to life and culture by singing a lighter and happier version of their traditional national songs and these are generally referred to as "Fados da Coimbra".

To the south is the town of Condeixa-a-Nova with its 17th to 19th Century palaces and manor homes. Just south are the Roman ruins of Conimbriga, the largest unearthed archaeological find of its kind in Portugal. The site was in existence in about 2.000BC, but it was in the era of the Emperor Augustus in 25BC that the settlement really flourished. This area has many interesting aspects for visitors including the Grutas da Lapinha. Lying to the west of Coimbra is the fortified town of Montemor-o-Velho. Nobody has managed to ascertain its age with opinions differing between 4.000 and 2.400 years old and an important stronghold over the Mondego valley. Beyond this town on the coast is Figueira da Foz a popular holiday resort town with a 16th Century fort. To the northeast is the small charming town of Santa Comba Do that dates from the 10th Century.

It is known more for its birthplace of both Alves Mateus and Oliveira Salazar, the first being a renown preacher and the second the 20th Century ruler of Portugal. The area is mainly residential and contains typical examples of homes through the ages besides a 15th Century church. To the east of Coimbra are the towns of Lous and Gais, both of which are worth visiting to see the architectural buildings and feel the serenity that the towns emit, something which is in complete contrast to their turbulent histories that are recorded in the history books. To the north is first the town of Penacova that dates back to about 1105, and then there is the Parque do Buaco, a monastic centre from the 6th Century. A residential retreat commissioned by Dom Carlos in 1889 it was converted this century into a luxury hotel. Close by again to the north are the Spa towns of Luso and Curia that both provide hotels and sports activities for their guests.

Region Information - Algarve | The Azores | Coimbra | Madeira | The Silver Coast