Coimbra: Visit the historic city of Coimbra
10th October 2008
Visitors choosing a holiday in Portugal could consider the beautiful city of Coimbra situated on the Silver Coast.
The destination is steeped in a rich culture orientated around its history, architecture and religious beliefs.
It is also known as the country's oldest centre of learning with the foundations of today's University of Coimbra created in 1290 by King Denis I and its lifestyle being very much orientated around its students.
The city is famous for such landmarks as the Santa Cruz Monastery with its manueline facade, the romanesque Old Cathedral and an array of churches, parks and gardens, in addition to the nearby Mondego river.
Coimbra is a hub for its own stylised version of the world-famous Portuguese music genre fado, which is more refined than the Lisbon variety and, according to tradition, invites people to cough their praise following a song rather than clap.
Art lovers can stop off at the 16th-century Museu Nacional Machado de Castro which houses an impressive collection of sculptures.
The Independent described the location as "Portugal's city of dreaming spires", with "a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere" still capable of attracting hoards of visitors each year.
Hence, with the beach and countryside only a short car-ride away, there is something for everyone in the city, so why wait?
Admire the spoils of Coimbra on your city break
| Bookmark with: | ||||
 Delicious |  Digg |  reddit |  Facebook |  StumbleUpon |
Recommended Coimbra Breaks
4* Quinta Das Lagrimas from £569
The Quinta das Lagrimas is an historic hotel that was originally an 18th century palace, set amongst 20 acres of gardens with rare and exotic plant species. The hotel features the... More Info
Send to a Friend
Email Newsletter
Subscribe to the railbookers.com newsletter for all our latest special offers and news.
