Coimbra Private Tour Full Day

Coimbra Private Tour Full Day

In the morning we leave the sunny city of Lisbon towards Coimbra with

it's narrow streets, courtyards, medieval stairs and arches, Coimbra was birthplace of six Portuguese kings of the

First Dynasty.

Coimbra has a famous university that is the first University of the country

and one of the oldest in the world. The first university registration

is in 1290.

Always lively and active because of it's almost 30,000 students who live in,

it does not slow the pace of those who tend to fall asleep in the

shadows of the famous churches.

The gastronomy is excellent with several typical dishes and regional

sweets where the pastels of Santa Clara stand out, this city has a

rich historical, architectural and cultural heritage that is a

precious common collection of Humanity, now recognized by UNESCO,

Coimbra is land of student but more than that, it is a land of

traditions where the past and the future have more charm in the hour

of farewell.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: 3000 Coimbra, Portugal

Coimbra has a famous university that is the first University of the country and one of the oldest in the world. The first university registration is in 1290.Coimbra is a complete city because it combines the old with the modern.

Duration: 10 hours

Stop At: University of Coimbra, Paco das Escolas, Coimbra 3000-240 Portugal

The University of Coimbra is one of the oldest universities in Europe. Interestingly, it was originally founded in Lisbon in 1290 by King Dinis, but was transferred to Coimbra in 1537 and located in what used to be a medieval palace. Partly rebuilt in the 17th and 18th centuries in Baroque and neo-classical styles, this is the Old University where some of the most celebrated tourist attractions in Coimbra can be found. The stunning eye-opener that is the Biblioteca Joanina is reason enough to visit this venerable institution.

Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Igreja e Mosteiro da Santa Cruz, Praca 8 de Maio, Coimbra 3001-801 Portugal

Afonso Henriques and Sancho I, the first two kings of Portugal, are entombed in Santa Cruz church, which forms part of a monastery founded in 1131 by the canons of St. Augustine. The Romanesque church is noted for its Manueline façade attributed to Diogo Boitac, who was also responsible for designing the chapterhouse. In fact, Santa Cruz's form has been chiseled out by some of the 16th century's finest sculptors, noted exponents like Nicolau Chanterène and Jean de Rouen, whose carvings ornament the church's Portal da Majestade.

Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Old Cathedral of Coimbra (Se Velha de Coimbra), Coimbra Portugal

The Old Cathedral is more akin to a fort such is its solid, almost oppressive appearance - all crenelated walls, narrow window-slits, and heavy-set veneer. In fact, this is one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture in Portugal. Consecrated in 1184, King Sancho I was crowned here shortly afterwards when Coimbra was the nation's capital. There are flourishes of extravagance relieving the sombre effect of the exterior: the elegant Renaissance Porta Especiosa on the north side of the church is the most obvious example.

Duration: 30 minutes

Pass By: Se Nova Catedral de Coimbra, Largo da Feira dos Estudantes, Coimbra 3600-213 Portugal

The fussy tapered façade of the New Cathedral contrasts starkly with its older, more conservative namesake. But it can hardly be described as contemporary; this church was founded by the Jesuits in 1598 and consecrated in 1640. The exuberance of the exterior is equaled by the opulence of the interior - the high altar of gold filigree standing majestically in the 17th-century chancel is a standout feature, the pair of 18th-century organs positioned either side lending form and function. Actually, there is a bit of the old in the new: the octagonal font and the choir stalls once belonged in the Sé Velha.

Pass By: Mondego River, Estrada Serra da Boa Viagem, Figueira da Foz 3080-008 Portugal

The city's venerable patina is clearly visible from the river, and drifting lazily along this ancient watercourse affords visitors an appealing and wholly different perspective on this beguiling destination.

Stop At: Museu Nacional de Machado de Castro, Largo Doutor Jose Rodrigues, Coimbra 3000-236 Portugal

Re-opened to the public after undergoing an extensive redesign by respected architect, Gonçalo Byrne, the Machado de Castro National Museum (MNMC) - named after the famous Portuguese sculptor, Joaquim Machado de Castro (1731-1822) - is one of Portugal's foremost cultural institutions. The new space boasts five floors, offering three times more exhibition space than in its previous incarnation. The permanent displays of Roman archaeology, which include a remarkable cryptoporticus, 12th to 18th-century southern European sacred metalwork, 14th to 18th-century jewelry, and one of the finest collections of medieval statuary in Portugal that spans the 10th to the 18th century is supplemented by rare and valuable paintings, drawings, textiles, furniture, and ceramics.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Velha, Rua das Parreiras, Coimbra 3040-266 Portugal

The evocative, partly sunken ruins of the Convent of Santa Clara-a-Velha are all that remain of the 13th-century monastery. Built on the south bank of the River Mondego, the building served as a retreat for Santa Isabel, the widow of King Dinis. Isabel oversaw the construction of a new church where she was interred after her death in 1336. However, the death knell was also sounding for Santa Clara itself after consistent flooding undermined the convent's foundations.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Jardim Botanico, Calcada Martim de Freitas Coimbra University, Coimbra 3000-456 Portugal

The city's botanical gardens are the most expansive in Portugal. Integrated into the University of Coimbra's faculty of natural history, they were created by the Marquês de Pombal during the reform of the university in 1773. Landscaped on valley terraces near the river, the entrance to the verdant 20-hectare estate lies under the shadow of the 16th-century aqueduct of São Sebastião. The exuberant and exotic collection of flora numbers some 1,200 plants and trees from around the world

Duration: 30 minutes

Pass By: Jardim do Portugal dos Pequenitos, Coimbra 3040-202 Portugal

Grown ups are welcome at this imaginative theme park, the name of which translates as "the little ones of Portugal." That's because everything here is a world in miniature, a thoroughly amusing exhibition of scaled-down versions of Portugal's most cherished national monuments, finest buildings, and traditional villages.

Pass By: Praca do Comercio, Coimbra Portugal

Coimbra's busy main square is the city's commercial hub. Lined with shops, boutiques, cafés, and restaurants, it's also a popular tourist attraction in its own right. In one corner stands the church of Sao Tiago. Consecrated in the 12th century, its façade has been heavily restored, but inside, an altarpiece dripping with dazzling gilded wood greets admiring sightseers. The outside of the building is particularly alluring at night when it's illuminated. Just off nearby Rua Ferreira Borges are the aforementioned Arco de Alemedina and Torre de Anto.