About this experience
Welcome to Coimbra - the first capital of Portugal, where the royal palace houses the university, and the library can rival the cathedral in splendor. I will not only introduce you to the main attractions but also show you hidden places away from the tourists' eyes that fully reveal the spirit of Coimbra and its history. You will learn what it means to 'kick the fox' in the city dialect, who Princess Sindhazunda is, and where the small bronze plaques on the pavement come from. And through the taste of traditional Portuguese sweets over a cup of coffee and the sounds of Coimbra fado, the true charm of the city will be revealed to you!
What to Expect
Coimbra Behind the Facade: Off-the-Beaten-Path Places
From the ancient Roman wharf on the Mondego River, we will head into the depths of the city: we will walk under the fortress walls past the Church of Saint James, one of the oldest buildings in Portugal, stroll through the narrow streets of Baixa with unusual names - here you will find Cat Alley, Frog Street, and even Cod Dead End. You will see the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, where the first king of Portugal rests, and in the Garden of the Siren, you will find the country's first football field, which gave the world Cristiano Ronaldo. Behind every corner, the real Coimbra, its architectural relics, and picturesque corners will unfold before you.
Feel the Mood and Rhythm of Coimbra
Step by step, you will see the city not only as a preserve of European Catholic culture but as a living organism: we will talk about how life is organized in Coimbra and how it is influenced by the university schedule, explore local culinary traditions and specialties. We will take a break for coffee with traditional sweets in an ancient cafeteria overlooking the botanical garden or on the veranda of the Machado de Castro Museum. And on the streets of the old town, you will hear the sounds of Coimbra fado - the Portuguese cruel romance: I will tell you how local fado differs from the Lisbon style.
Symbols of the Medieval City
Exploring off-the-beaten-path places in Coimbra, we will not overlook the main attractions. You will visit one of the four oldest universities in Europe, meet the monastery of Saint Clare, the New Cathedral, belonging to the Jesuit order, and the 12th-century Old Cathedral, which absorbed different architectural styles over the centuries - from Gothic to Renaissance.
