Coimbra Hotels
Coimbra Hotels Reservation
Check Rates
OVERVIEW
Coimbra is the oldest seat of learning in Portugal with a University founded in 1290 by King Dinis. Six of Portugal's Kings were born here and in 1139 until 1256 it was the chosen capital of the country.
Some of Coimbra's main features are the 12th-century Romanesque church of Se Velho; the 16th-century Se Nova, built by the Jesuits; the Museu Nacional Machado de Castro, with some of Portugal's finest sculpture; the Mosteiro de Santa Cruz, displaying the tomb of the first King of Portugal, Afonso Henriques; the Botanical Garden, the largest in the country; the University buidings, which have been replaced over time; the students library Biblioteca Joanna, with an astonishing collection of over 300,000 books dating from the 12th century; and the Casa Museu Bissaya Barreto, housing a collection of decorative tiles, period paintings, sculptures, and porcelain objects especially from the Comphania das Indias.
Near the Convento da Santa Clara-a-Velho there is a park dedicated to children, where they can find small- scale reproductions of all the most important buildings, monuments, and typical homes in Portugal.
There is a tradition that students still preserve: they attach coloured ribbons to their gowns to indicate which faculty they belong to. In an event called Queima das Fitas, they celebrate the end of the academic year by burning these ribbons.
Coimbra Hotels Directory
 Travel Destination Guide Discount Rates!
Who has the best hotel deals? Compare 30 sites at ONCE!  
top |
