Coimbra
Portugal City Travel Guide: Coimbra
City Guide I
Turismo I Arrival
I Accommodation
I Entertainment
I Internet Cafes
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© David McCullough
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Coimbra
- Centre of Portuguese Renaissance.
- Famous for the ancient University of Coimbra.
- Town of steep and winding alleys.
- Guaranteed to charm, if not excite.
Coimbra is famous above all for its ancient
university: one of the world's first. Coimbra consists of an upper
and lower town. The bridge, Ponte de Santa Clara, crosses the Mondego
River and leads onto the main square, Largo da Portagem, at its
north-east bank. From here the lower town spreads out principally
along the busy and happening Rua Ferreira Borges to the next main
square, Praca do Comercio. A little further up Rua Visconde da Luz
is Santa Cruz, a Gothic church housing the remains of Afonso Henriques,
Portugal's first king, and worth a visit for its exquisite tiles.
The upper town leads up to the hilltop on which the university
sits. Founded in 1290, Coimbra university boasts some of the city's
main architectural treasures, especially its beautiful library full
of priceless books. Below it are no less than two cathedrals: Se
Velha, Portugal's supreme example of the Romanesque style, and Se
Nova, a Jesuit church featuring an opulent altar.
Further west of the university is the center of the upper town,
Praca da Republica, beside Santa Cruz Park (nowhere near the church
of the same name) and with the Botanical Gardens a little to the
south.
The first Thursday in May sees Coimbra host the Queima das Fitas
(Burning of the Ribbons festival), when students celebrate the end
of the school year with fado and other music concerts and a parade
of floats and heavy beer drinking.
Coimbra Tourist Office
Largo da Portagem (tel. 239 855 930)
Tourist Support Line, (tel. 800 296 296)
SOS line, 112
Getting to Coimbra
Coimbra Station A is the main station for regional
trains. Tel. 239 834 998 for local rail information.
Coimbra Station B is the main station for trains to and from outside
the region. It is a 5-minute ride north of Coimbra.
Coimbra Parque Station in the south-east connects the town to the
south.
Seventeen trains daily make the 2-hour or 3-hour 20 min-run between
Lisbon and Coimbra.
Hourly trains to Porto; 1 hour 20 mins - 2 hours. One train every
hour connects Coimbra to the coastal town of Figueira da Foz. It
takes an hour and costs around EUR 1.45 one-way.
From Lisbon take the A1 highway north. Takes about 2
hours.
But beware: most of central Coimbra is closed to cars.
Bus Station on Avenida Fernão de Magalhães.
Sixteen buses a day make the 2 hours 20 min-run between Lisbon and
Coimbra.
7-12 buses a day run between Coimbra and Porto. It takes between
90 mins and 2 hours 45 mins depending on the type of bus.
Featured Hotel  Hotel
Astoria, three star, 82 rooms, around EUR 80-90 for double room
with bath.
Av. Emidio Navarro 21
Tel. 239 853 020
Fax. 239 822 057
Complimentary breakfast buffet, concierge, multilingual staff, room
service, safe deposit boxes and laundry service. Indoor parking
available nearby.
Book
this hotel Book Accommodation in and around Coimbra
Hotel
Astoria
Hotel
Best Western D. Luis
Dona
Ines
Hotel
Tivoli Coimbra
Pousadas
Villas
& Self-catering
Hotels in Portugal – Bookings
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A Taberna
Rua dos Combatentes da Grande Guerra 86
Prices: EUR 6-15 for a main course.
Tel. 239 716 265, reservations recommended.
Diligencia Bar
Rua Nova
Tel. 239 827 667
Features local fado singers from about 10pm.
List your restaurant/bar/hotel contact Advertising
Internet Cafe
Sp@cenet
Av. Sá da Bandiera, 67
e-mail:spacenet@netcabo.pt
10am-midnight.
 Local
football team
Associação Académica de Coimbra
Founded 1887.
Stadium name: Estadio Municipal
Seats 35,000.
The average high June temperatures for Portugal is between 22C and 26C.
Get more weather information for Portugal
Coimbra
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