Coimbra, Coimbra Hotels, Coimbra Travel

If you are planning to travel to Coimbra, and are looking for a Coimbra hotel or apartment, the following information may help by giving you an overview on the resort of Coimbra.

After Lisbon and Oporto, Coimbra is one of the most important cities in Portugal, playing a vital role as the chief city of central Portugal. Coimbra has a few interesting archaeological remains dating from the time it was a Roman town called Aeminium, but it was later on that the city grew in stature. It was the capital of Portugal from 1139 to 1260 and soon developed into an important cultural centre. This was due to the University of Coimbra, founded in 1290, one of the oldest universities in Europe. The city boasts many notable monuments from that era and beyond, and its monumental buildings and history attracts tourists from around the world.

The university was originally founded in Lisbon but moved to Coimbra in 1537 to a site on a hill by the River Mondego. The university is built around a large square, beneath which is the entrance a Baroque chapel. The university library (Biblioteca Joanina) is perhaps the main tourist attraction – three beautiful rooms with painted ceilings holding more than 300,000 books on shelves made of fine woods.

The university eighteenth-century botanic garden is another highlight. Founded in 1772, it occupies thirteen hectares (32 acres) and is considered to be one of the most beautiful in Europe. The Machado de Castro Museum, one of Portugal’s most important art museums housed in the former Bishop’s Palace is also worth a visit, as is Portugal dos Pequeninos Park, a collection of child-sized scale models of important Portuguese building.

The Roman Ruins of nearby Conimbriga, 16km (10 miles) from the city, make a fascinating excursion. They were first settled in the first century AD, but abandoned some 300 years later as the inhabitants fled to Coimbra to escape invasion. The walls of the city are well preserved, and the wonderful mosaic floors of many houses and public buildings remain. In the Roman baths, you can see the underground stone heating ducts beneath the now-missing floors.

Location of Coimbra:
The historic city of Coimbra is located in central Portugal, 120 km south of Oporto, 195 km north of Lisbon. One of Portugal's biggest crossroads, Coimbra is served by the A1, the main highway of Portugal. It is set by the Mondego River, about 40 km east of Figueira da Foz, a neighbour coastal city with several beaches, summer and seaport facilities on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.

Coimbra Temperature Chart :

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Temp °C	12	13	14	15	18	21	22	23	22	19	15	12

Average daily temperature °C

Serving Airports:
Porto Airport Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport [OPO]
Flight time from the UK: approximately 2 hours 30 minutes and then another 140 km from the airport.

Shopping in Coimbra:
The medieval centre of Coimbra is unusual in retaining a number of independent bookshops, boutiques, toyshops, galleries, antique and foodshops.

Eating out in Coimbra:
Having a meal is not really a problem in Coimbra, since the city has a lot of restaurants. There is a lot of quality wine production in the regions surrounding Coimbra - try some Bairrada wine. Don't miss the 'licor beirao', a national sweet liquor drink make in the region. Try Cafe de Santa Cruz - a historical cafe next to the 'lgraja de Santa Cruz' [Saint Cross Church] and there is 'Salao Brazil' - a restaurant but also a bar, most worthy during weekends with mostly free jazz, folk and fado concerts.

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Disclaimer:
By its very nature much of the information in our destination guides is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which they are relying with the relevant authorities. Corona Holidays [UK] Limited cannot accept any responsibility for any loss or inconvenience to any person as a result of information contained above.

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