Coímbra

Torre de Anto

The Tower of Anto also called Torre do Prior do Ameal, this tower was one of those belonging to the ancient wall of medieval origin that surrounded the city. However, around the sixteenth century, the tower was losing its defensive function and converted into a private house. The best known person who lived in this house was the poet António Pereira Nobre, who lived there while studying, back in the late nineteenth century.

Today, the Tower of Anto houses the House of Crafts of Coimbra.

Portugal dos Pequenitos

Portugal dos Pequenitos is a small theme park where the history and architecture of Portugal is reproduced thanks to scale representations. This complex was inaugurated in 1940 and is divided into three zones:

Portugal dos Pequenitos is a small theme park that reproduces the history and architecture of Portugal thanks to scale representations.

Penedo da Saudade

The Penedo da Saudade is a large rocky complex that receives this nomenclature, since Prince Pedro often went to this place to mourn his sorrows for the loss of his beloved Inés. As a curiosity, the many spaces of the garden that houses tombstones with verses belonging to different university promotions stand out.

Museo del Agua

The Water Museum was inaugurated in 2007, and now occupies the facilities of an old water collection station, so it is located near the Dr. Manuel de Braga Park.

The Water Museum was inaugurated in 2007, and now occupies the facilities of an old water collection station, so it is located near the Dr. Manuel de Braga Park.

Inside the museum explains the history of public water supply, exhibiting in turn, other collections, among which is to highlight the collection of water meters.

HOURS

Tuesdays to Sundays from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00

TARIFALa entrance is free

INFORMATION OF INTEREST

Web: www.museudaagua.comE-mail: museudaagua@aguasdecoimbra.ptTeléfono: +351 239 102 115

Museo de la Ciencia

The science museum is an interactive museum whose function is to disseminate information through different galleries such as physics, zoology, mineralogy and geology, and botany. In the physics gallery is the Laboratorio Chimico, whose collection is considered one of the most important in the world. In the mineralogy and geology gallery is the oldest collection of the entire continent, which houses more than 5600 samples. All of them stand out for some of the aspects that they house in their collections.

Monasterio de Santa Cruz

The monastery of Santa Cruz, built in the 12th century, was founded by the Order of the Canons of St. Augustine. After its construction it underwent numerous reforms, the most important in the sixteenth century in which the facade was completely modified by adding two bell towers. Inside the monastery you can admire the Chapel of the Martyrs of Morocco, the Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre, the Chapel of St. Anthony and the Chapel of the Lord of the Steps, as well as the Main Chapel, which houses the tombs of the first kings of Portugal, for which it was declared National Pantheon. Also noteworthy in its interior are the Baroque-style organ, the tribune, the Mannerist sacristy, the Cloister of Silence, the refectory and the Chapter House.

Monasterio de Santa Clara a Velha

The monastery of Santa Clara a Velha is a large building of the thirteenth century erected at the request of the noble Mor Dias, in order to house a community of Poor Clare nuns. After the idea was refuted by both the canons of the Monastery of Santa Cruz and the nuns, in 1311 it ceased to function as such. After years of abandonment, this old monastery was re-founded to house the Interpretive Center with the permanent exhibition “Nuns and Duennas of Santa Clara: Archaeology of the Cloister”.

Monasterio de Celas

The monastery of Celas was founded by Doña Sancha de Portugal, daughter of Sancho I, at the beginning of the 13th century. Between the 16th and 17th centuries, the building underwent an intense restoration that modified its original aesthetics, except for the church, which maintained its circular structure, the Chapter House, the Choir and the Cloister, where the historiated capitals located in the west and south wings of the cloister stand out.

HOURS

Monday to Friday from 15:00 to 18:00

FEE

General admission: 1€Children’s admission: 0,5€

Jardim Botânico

The Jardim Botânico built by mandate of the Marquis of Pombal around 1772, is presented as one of the most prosperous and richest gardens in Portugal. The Botanical Garden was designed by some Italian artists and hosts a forest territory, as well as six portions of land prepared for planting including greenhouses, lakes, fountains and ponds.

This garden has more than 1,200 tree species, most of which are exotic. Once you enter the garden, visitors can contemplate the statue of Avelar Brotero, the first director the garden had. Undoubtedly, the Botanical Garden of Coimbra constitutes an ideal place for a relaxing walk in the open air and is currently under scientific study.

HOURS

Everyday from 09:00 to 17:30

INFORMATION OF INTEREST

Telephone: +351 239 855 216

Iglesia de Santo António dos Olivais

The church of Santo António dos Olivais was originally, in the 13th century, a chapel that Queen Dona Urraca transferred to the Franciscans. One of these religious turned out to be Fernando de Bulhões, who would later be known as Saint Anthony of Padua and sainted in 1232.

The church of Santo António dos Olivais was originally, in the 13th century, a chapel that Queen Urraca transferred to the Franciscans.

The Franciscan Order abandoned this place in 1274, so this chapel became the property of the Cabildo of the city of Coimbra, which was responsible for expanding the church and keeping it in good condition. However, in the 16th century, the religious were able to recover the property. The temple that can be seen today is the result of a major restoration carried out in the eighteenth century.

INFORMATION OF INTEREST

Telephone: +351 239 711 992

Iglesia de Santiago

The church of Santiago is one of the most important and worth admiring Romanesque temples in the city of Coimbra. It was built between the end of the 12th century and the beginning of the 13th century. The main doorway of the church has an ornamentation inspired by the Old Cathedral, while the side doorway has an ornamentation of shells as a reference to Santiago, the saint to whom the temple is consecrated.

The main doorway of the church has an ornamentation inspired by the Old Cathedral.

In the interior of the church, the wooden roof, the main chapel and the altarpiece in the rococo Conimbrian style stand out.

HOURS

From 08:00 to 20:00

INFORMATION OF INTEREST

Telephone: +351 239 825 154

Conímbriga

Conímbriga is the remains of an ancient territory populated since prehistoric times, which was occupied by Roman troops in 139 BC. This settlement consisted of basic structures such as the forum, the amphitheater or the baths, until finally erected a basilica in the center of the town. The most outstanding features of the town are its houses, which conserve their primitive stones. Of these houses is essential to observe the Casa dos Repuxos, which has a beautiful garden in the center and stands out for its mosaics that reproduce hunting scenes, mythological environments, seasons, marine species, etc.. The house of Cantaber, considered larger than the rest does not leave indifferent the museum that displays objects found over the years in the excavations.

Catedral Sé Nova

The Sé Nova Cathedral of Coimbra, began its construction in the late sixteenth century, but did not begin to be used until the seventeenth century. Originally it was intended to serve as a church of the Jesuit College until they were expelled from Portugal and became the new episcopal see. The façade stands out for its mixture of styles, on the first floor there are sculptures of Jesuit saints in the mannerist style and the upper floor in the baroque style. Inside, the altarpieces with gilded carvings from the early seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, as well as the choir stalls and the baptismal font are striking.

Biblioteca Joanina

The Joanina Library, originally known as Casa da Libreria, was built between 1717 and 1728, being officially inaugurated after 1750. This building is completely baroque in style and is named Joanina as a tribute to its author, João V. As for its structure, it simulates a six-sided polyhedron accessed by a large triumphal arch-shaped portal flanked by two Ionic columns. Inside, it houses three large interconnected rooms lined with gilded bookshelves with Chinese-style ornamentation. This library houses collections of all kinds and antiquity, from the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

Seminario Maior de Coimbra

The Seminario Maior de Coimbra began to be built in 1748. The main facade of the building is divided into five bodies, of which, the central body houses a temple that despite its small size, presents great architectural beauty, either by its layout or its ornamentation.

The Seminario Maior is presided over by a splendid garden, designed in the 20th century in a baroque style.

INFORMATION OF INTEREST

E-mail: smsf.coimbra@mail.telepac.pt Phone: +351 239 792 340

Patio da Inquisição

The Patio da Inquisição is located in the same place where, between 1566 and 1821, the Court of the Holy Office or also called the Inquisition was located. In the surroundings of this courtyard was also located the College of Arts and, currently, this same place hosts the Visual Arts Center.

Parque de Santa Cruz

The park of Santa Crus also known as Jardim da Sereia, was once part of the Monastery of Santa Cruz and was built in the eighteenth century. The access to the park is presided over by a triumphal arch, located between two towers, on which stand three statues, symbolizing Faith, Hope and Charity.

The Fonte da Nogueira represents one of the most beautiful spaces of this park, as it stands the statue of a triton. This mythological being is often mistaken for a mermaid. It is for this very reason that this space is also known as Jardim da Sereia. This park is ideal for the visitor to contemplate a great variety of exotic tree species as well as other faunal species such as marbled newts, toads or salamanders.

Museo Nacional de Machado de Castro

The National Museum of Machado de Castro is purely religious and opened in 1913, listed as a National Museum in 1965. Its nomenclature comes from one of the best sculptors of Portuguese history: Joaquim Machado de Castro. In its interior it keeps collections of sculpture, painting, ceramics, goldsmithery and textiles, as well as archaeological samples and oriental art. This museum not only holds its exhibitions in a single building but in several, including the Episcopal Palace and the Church of San Juan de Almedina.

Jardines Sá da Bandeira

The Sá da Bandeira Gardens are located in the center of Avenida Sá da Bandeira and were built at the end of the 19th century, following the projects that were programmed at that time for the urbanization of Quinta de Santa Cruz.

The Sá da Bandeira Gardens are located in the center of Avenida Sá da Bandeira and were built at the end of the 19th century, following the projects that were programmed at that time for the urbanization of Quinta de Santa Cruz.

This park is well known and loved by the inhabitants of Coimbra, as its spaces include ponds where numerous types of birds and other plant species that give life to the city live together.

Iglesia de São Pedro

The college that houses the Church of São Pedro was founded in 1540 and was originally intended for poor priests. This institution remained in this location until its schoolboys had to move to the upper area of the city of Coimbra.

The temple of this college, like the cloister located here, is simple, although of large dimensions. This church follows the same layout as the other temples located within the neighboring colleges.

Iglesia de São Bartolomeu

The church of São Bartolomeu dates back to the tenth century, making it one of the oldest temples in the city, although it was rebuilt in the twelfth and eighteenth centuries. The exterior of the temple has a baroque style, although its layout is quite simple. From the interior of the church highlights the Mannerist altarpiece dating from the sixteenth century, which reproduces the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ through paintings alluding to that event, and the engraved altarpieces that reproduce the episode of the martyrdom of St. Bartholomew.

HOURS

Monday to Saturday from 08:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 17:00Sundays from 08:00 to 12:00

INFORMATION OF INTEREST

Telephone: +351 239 825 154

Iglesia de Santa Justa

The original church of Santa Justa dates back to the 12th century and was located elsewhere. However, the church that can be seen today was inaugurated in the year 1724.

The main facade of the building is ostentatious, with three floors and flanked by towers. The interior of the temple houses a main chapel, inside which you can admire a magnificent baroque style altarpiece belonging to the time of the reign of John V in the eighteenth century.

Iglesia de Nossa Senhora da Graça

The college that houses the Church of Nossa Senhora da Graça was created in 1543 by King John III and depended on the Order of the Hermits of St. Augustine. Both the temple and the cloister are examples of the first changes that were made to some religious buildings in the city of Coimbra to give them classical forms typical of the Renaissance.

HOURS

Monday to Saturday from 08:30 to 11:45 and from 14:30 to 18:30

Monday to Saturday from 08:30 to 11:45 and from 14:30 to 18:30

.

INFORMATION OF INTEREST

Telephone: +351 239 820 576

Iglesia de Nossa Senhora do Carmo

The Church of Nossa Senhora do Carmo was part of the Carmen College and dates back to the late 16th century. Highlights inside the church include a Mannerist altarpiece, dating from the 16th century and painted by Simão Rodrigues and Domingo Vieira Serrão; a series of Lisbon tiles dating from the 17th century; and the Deposition of Christ in the tomb of Jean de Rouen, located in the sacristy.

INFORMATION OF INTEREST

Telephone: +351 239 822 938

Convento de Santa Clara a Nova

The convent of Santa Clara-A-Nova is a monastery built in the seventeenth century with the intention of replacing the Monastery of Santa Clara the Old, as it was flooded very frequently with the rises of the Mondego River. It is mostly a work of João Torriano, although the cloister was designed by the Hungarian Carlos Mardel. This convent was left in charge of the Confraternity of Queen Saint Isabel in 1891, after the Poor Clare nuns abandoned it. It is for this reason that in its interior is found, inside a silver and crystal urn, the deceased Queen Isabella of Aragon.

Convento de Cristo

The Convent of Christ was declared a World Heritage Site in 1983 by UNESCO along with its annexed construction, the Templar Castle. This complex was built on a space of papal worship thanks to the donation of the land by Alfonso Henriques. The first to be built was the castle, in 1160 by order of the Knights of the Temple of Jerusalem. This castle was named Tomar Castle. Later this complex became the property of the Militia of the Knights of Christ, so the main cross of the castle was changed to be rectilinear, indicating the Passion of Christ. It is after the 16th century when the castle became a convent.

Catedral Sé Velha de Coimbra

The Sé Velha de Coímbra Cathedral is the oldest cathedral in the city. They began their work in the twelfth century being Romanesque style, although it underwent numerous later additions that gave it a Renaissance air. Of this construction highlights its north facade, known as Porta Epeciosa, with a portico divided into three floors, the work of Jean de Rouen. The reliefs sculpted in the capitals with geometric, vegetal and animal ornamentation can be observed in this portico. Inside it houses beautiful altarpieces by Nicolau Chanterene in the Main Chapel, the Chapel of the Sacrament and the Chapel of St. Peter.

Iglesia de São Salvador

The Church of São Salvador was rebuilt in the 18th century, although it preserves its Romanesque style doorway dating from 1179. From the interior of the temple stands out the altarpiece of the main altar, made in the year 1746 in a rococo style, and the altarpiece made by Jean de Rouen in 1540, which can be seen in the chapel of San Marcos.

Arco y Torre de Almedina

The Arch and Tower of Almedina were, in another era, a part of the ancient medieval wall of the city of Coimbra. The arch, for its part, functioned as one of the entrances to the wall. Today, however, its function is to connect the Upper part of the city with the Lower part.

For its part, the tower, formerly played a defensive role, as can be seen in the many elements that presents, for example, the arrow slits or machicolations. Since 2003, the tower of Almedina houses in its interior the Interpretation Center of the Walled City, belonging to the Municipal Museum.

Carmelo de Santa Teresa

The Carmel of Santa Teresa is a convent built exclusively for the Carmelite Sisters in the eighteenth century, although these were installed for the last time in the 50s of last century. This convent attracted many tourists, as it was home to the last seer of Fatima, Sister Lucia, who died in 2005.

Palacio de Sub-Ripas

The Sub-Ripas Palace, built in the 16th century on a tower of the walled enclosure of Coimbra, has a Manueline style façade. However, its windows are in Renaissance style and were made by Jean de Rouen, as well as the stone decorations that can be seen in the building.

Acueducto de San Sebastián

The Aqueduct of San Sebastian is dated from the sixteenth century and tries to cover the remains of an ancient Roman aqueduct. It was built in order to carry water from the Convent of Santa Teresa to the center of the city. It stands out, above all, the central arch in which there are sculptures of the martyr of San Sebastian and, at the top, the sculpture of San Roque.