Coimbra is a city in the Central region of Portugal. It was the country's
first capital and has one of the oldest universities in Europe. Although it
is no longer the country's capital today, it is one of its largest tourist
centers and one of its largest university cities.
Located on the
banks of the Mondego River, also known as the "river of poets", Coimbra has
around 150 thousand inhabitants (33 thousand of which are students). The
famous university of Coimbra, founded in the Middle Ages, is the oldest in
Portugal and one of the oldest in Europe, and attracts a population of
students that make it a very lively city.
Late Medieval.
Poplar grove.
Commercial of Coimbra.
Esplanade of the Coimbra Forum.
Eurostadium City of Coimbra. One of
the stages of Euro2004.
Memorial of Sister Lucia.
Viewpoints of
Santa Clara.
Machado de Castro National Museum.
Paul of Arzila.
Rock of Longing.
Portugal of the Little Ones.
Farm of Tears.
Mondego River.
University of Coimbra.
Valley of Canes.
Parks
Botanical garden.
Mermaid Garden.
Manuel Braga Park and
Mondego Green Park.
Churches
Convent of Sta. Clara-the-Old.
Convent of Sta. Clara-a-Nova.
Church of Saint Anthony of Olivais.
Monastery of Celas.
Monastery of Santa Cruz.
New Cathedral.
Old
Cathedral.
Boat trip on the Mondego River, aboard the "O Basófias", or the City
Tour in a Tuk Tuk
University of Coimbra, 3004-531 Coimbra,
Portugal. Admire the view over the Mondego River before visiting the
University of Coimbra complex. The entrance fee is 12 euros and includes
a visit to the Royal Palace, Chapel of São Miguel, Joanina Library,
Chemical Laboratory and College of Jesus, Experimental Physics Gallery
and Natural History Gallery. These places are worth visiting, but the
Joanina Library is undoubtedly the greatest treasure of them all. Built
by King D.João V in the Baroque style, it is one of the most beautiful
libraries in the country. R$12.
Restaurant Sete, Dr., R. Martins de
Carvalho nº 10, 3000-274 Coimbra, Portugal, +351 919 138 777 ✆.
Restaurante Sete is a new proposal in the city of Coimbra and is located
in the "downtown" of Coimbra, very close to one of the most emblematic
squares in this city, Praça 8 de Maio.
Fado
Coimbra fado was
born in the city, at the hands of students and is unmissable. The
Coimbra guitar is the typical instrument used to play fado.
Student Life
There is always a lot going on in the student community,
find out what is going on. Every year two major festivals take place:
Trellis.
Burning of the Ribbons.
If you lose
The center of
Coimbra is a fantastic place to get lost, Coimbra is a big city and full
of interesting things.
Distances
208 km from Lisbon
121 km from Porto
Air
The city does not yet have an airport, but it does have an airfield that
seeks to guarantee national connections (Bissaya Barreto Airfield) and
maritime links, thanks to its proximity to the port of Figueira da Foz,
which is the most central port between the cities of Lisbon and Porto
and serves the city of Coimbra.
In terms of international
airports, the closest is Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport in Porto,
approximately 130 km away. The country's main airport, Humberto Delgado
Airport in Lisbon, is 180 km away. Although both are more than a hundred
kilometers apart, the existing road and rail infrastructures allow
Coimbra to be connected to each of the airports in just over an hour and
a half.
There is an intention to transform the Monte Real Air
Base, in the municipality of Leiria, into a civil international airport,
with a view to serving the Beiras region, which, if done, would place
Coimbra only about 60 km from an international airport.
Highways
In the center of the country's spine, Coimbra has a strategic location
with road connections to the A1 motorway that connects it to the north
and south of the country and also to the A14 that connects it to the
neighboring city of Figueira da Foz, the largest seaside resort in the
Edges. The city is also served by the IP3 which connects it to Viseu
(and to Guarda via the IC12 or IC6) and by the A13 which connects it to
Tomar. There are no direct highway connections to the interior of Rio
Grande do Sul, a fact that has been the subject of debate in the region
over the years, as the majority of Rio Grande do Sul's municipalities
are located in the interior. The city is partially surrounded by two
ring roads, an inner ring road, known locally as the "hospital bypass",
to the northeast of the city center and an outer ring road which,
despite its name, is practically already included in the city center,
and which includes, among others, Avenida Mendes Silva, Avenida Fernando
Namora and Avenida Elísio de Moura.
Railways
It has rail links
to the north and south via the Alfa Pendular fast train. Regional
services run the Coimbra-Aveiro routes; Coimbra-Entroncamento and
Coimbra-Guarda and the suburban route is limited to the Coimbra-Figueira
da Foz section. The CP Regional Coimbra-Serpins suburban service was
discontinued following projects to introduce a light surface metro,
which planned to connect the municipalities of Coimbra, Miranda do Corvo
and Lousã, with possible extension to the municipalities of Góis and
Arganil through the use of the channel opened at the beginning of the
20th century and never used. The alternative since 2010 has been bus
connections, resulting from a partnership between CP — Comboios de
Portugal and Metro Mondego, until the metro connection is ready.
It has two railway stations:
Coimbra B or Old Station
Coimbra,
Coimbra A or New Station
And also the following stops within its
urban area:
Bencanta
Ademia
Vilela-Fornos
Swordswoman
Couples
Taveiro
The following stopping points and stations,
which served the extinct Ramal da Lousã and are within the urban area of
the city, are now deactivated:
Ceira Station
Coimbra-Park
Coimbra-Saint Joseph, Saint Joseph (Calhabé) or simply Saint Joseph
Oak trees
Conraria
Most of what there is to see or do in Coimbra, as well as most places
to eat, go out or sleep, are close to each other and the train station.
The city is also well served by a bus network from SMTUC
There
are several interesting places around Coimbra, the best way to visit
these places is using your own car, or by Tuk Tuk.
The traditional and medieval "Baixa" of Coimbra has an unusual
capacity for attraction for our times. Thousands of people and countless
clothing stores, bookstores, perfumeries, cafes, sweet shops,
restaurants, etc. gather here.
In Coimbra you can also find three
large shopping centers: 'Coimbra Shopping', 'Alma' (formerly Dolce Vita)
and 'Fórum Coimbra'.
Throughout the city you can find several
regional products of interest, the most emblematic and sought after of
which is the "Louça de Coimbra".
It is not difficult to find a place to have a meal in Coimbra, the
city has plenty of options. Order Chanfana, Suckling pig à bairrada,
octopus or cod tibornada, lamprey rice. As for traditional sweets, try
Tentúgal Pastries, Santa Clara Pastries, Pear Cheesecakes, White Manjar,
Coimbra Ruffs, Nun's Belly and Rice Pudding.
Economic
There
are three large shopping centers in Coimbra that offer a large quantity
and diversity of fast food. These are easy to find, however, they are
located outside the tourist areas.
For students there is a large
selection of canteens offering good food at good prices. The "Verdes"
(next to the monumental stairs), the "Mermaid" (at the top of the
Mermaid Garden) and the university stadium canteen are among the best.
Scattered throughout the less busy streets of the center of Coimbra,
there are also several taverns that can provide an interesting
gastronomic and cultural experience. The best known among the university
community is 'O Pinto', located in the 'alta'. Rua Direita is known for
its taverns.
Average
La Fiesta The La Fiesta Restaurant,
located in downtown Coimbra, on Rua do Carmo next to Terreiro da Erva,
specializes in Valencian Paella, but also offers a wide range of options
when it comes to Portuguese cuisine. Calm and pleasant environment with
personalized service. Tel: 239821246 Mobile: 914080717
Italia, an
Italian restaurant in the city park, has a beautiful room overlooking
the Mondego River and a terrace in the city park.
Zé Manel dos Ossos
is one of the most famous restaurants in Coimbra. The unique atmosphere
experienced inside the restaurant justifies its fame. The walls are
covered in pieces of paper with messages left by customers and the
restaurant looks like the modern descendant of a medieval tavern. The
good food on offer also justifies a visit. The 'Bones' and 'Pigged
Mushrooms' delight locals and tourists.
Taberna - This is a good
place to try 'chanfana', one of the most famous dishes in the Coimbra
region. It is located next to the Municipal Stadium.
O Telheiro -
This restaurant is definitely worth a visit, it's unbelievable: lots of
good food at good prices. Interesting concept of desserts. It is a good
example of Portuguese hospitality. The only negative aspects are the
inevitable difficulty in getting a table and the location outside the
city center (next to Coimbra B station)
Corn Flour - In Ançã. A very
beautiful restaurant that serves some of the best Portuguese food. It is
located in a restored water mill in Ançã. Located a short 10 minutes
from Coimbra.
Esplendoroso - Chinese restaurant located on Rua da
Sota (behind the Hotel Astória). Surprisingly good at affordable prices.
Restaurante Marisqueira Munich - Restaurant with a large menu and where
you can eat very well. Located on Rua do Brasil at the foot of C.C.Dolce
Vita. With seafood always fresh every day.
Splurge
Quinta das
Lágrimas - the hotel restaurant may not be the best in town, but it is
certainly the most expensive. Don't forget to dress appropriately.
Gengibre is a modern and elegant restaurant that challenges your palate
with interesting dishes. Located next to the Church of Sto António dos
Olivais.
Drink and leave
There is a lot of quality wine in the areas around
Coimbra, Bairrada wine is a reference, as is Dão wine.
What do they
drink here? Beirão Liquor! Originally from the region, you shouldn't
miss out on drinking it.
The bars around Praça da República are,
in general, the busiest. They are filled with academic spirit during
class time. There are several options in the city, some of them:
Fado ao Centro - A place of worship to listen to Fado de Coimbra every
day during the day, from 11 am. www.fadoaocentro.com
Bar a Capela is
a modern fado bar, housed in an old chapel, and is a fantastic place to
listen to Coimbra fado.
Diligencia Bar - Another bar where you can
listen to fado, this one more typical.
Salão Brazil - Restaurant and
bar where you can often watch shows, especially during the weekend.
Fado, popular music and Jazz.
BAAC - Bar of the Academic Association
of Coimbra - restricted to students. Next to Republic Square.
Look
for me - bar near Republic Square.
The bars at "Parque Verde do
Mondego" are a fantastic place to have a drink all year round, with
spacious terraces by the river during spring and summer.
Alex's Bar -
Cozy place with several themed parties, Erasmus meeting point and the
best hits of the moment
Insomnia Bar - On Av. Sá da Bandeira,
with Karaoke on Wednesdays and Saturdays!
Theatrix - Avenue of
the Saviors
Noites Longas - Alternative nightclub close to Praça da
República (Rock and metal).
NB - Nightclub next to the Judicial
Police and the monumental stairs
Vinyl - Nightclub near the center, a
trendy place (Electronic, house, techno)
For those looking for an alternative to student nightlife:
Ocean's bar - Themed bar with contemporary decor. Tribute to the oceans
displaying 10,000 liters of salt water. Cells. Ocean's Bar Coimbra
There are also EXCELLENT bars in the Sé Velha region (all very close to
the Sé), such as:
Cabido Bar - Erasmus meeting point.
RS -
very good taste in Sé Velha
Anvil - Shots and Rock'n'Roll
Don't
forget to visit them and drink their famous "Shots"
TAGV - Gil
Vicente Academic Theater Café - Republic Square,
Feito Conceito -
Avenida Alexandre Herculano - Praça da Republica - A bar with a
different concept and customers with a more alternative style.
Economic
Hotel Comfort Inn Almedina Coimbra, Av. Fernão Magalhães,
199, (+351)239 855 500 ✆. geral@almedinacoimbra.com
Grande Hostel de
Coimbra, Rua Antero Quental nº 196, next to Praça da República (center
of Coimbra), tel (00351)239 108 212. A new space in a house over 100
years old with a garden with sun all day long. Overnight stays range
from €18 in dormitories to €40 in a double (price per room). Being a
hostel, its target audience is "backpackers" but all travelers or
tourists are welcome. A place not to be missed in Coimbra. Free Wi-Fi,
lockers and maps. www.grandehostelcoimbra.com
Hotel Ibis Coimbra,
Emidio Navarro n°70 Topazio Building, (+351)239 852 130 ✆. The Ibis
Coimbra hotel is located in the city center, on the banks of the Mondego
River, 300 m from the train station and close to several tourist
attractions such as the historic neighborhoods of Coimbra or the Convent
of Santa Clara and the Conímbriga ruins. Book one of our 110
air-conditioned rooms and take advantage of our 2 meeting rooms for
seminars and conferences, 24-hour bar, restaurant and paid covered
parking. Business guests can take advantage of Wi-Fi internet access.
Gouveia Residential, João de Ruão Street, No. 21 – 1st floor, (+351)239
829793 ✆, residencialgouveia@gmail.com. Residencial Gouveia is located
in the heart of downtown Coimbra. The Portuguese city with the greatest
university tradition, just a stone's throw from the bus station and
train station, close to the Palace of Justice and the Church of Graça
and right in front of Pingo Doce. It is an excellent compromise between
comfortable rooms and affordable/economical prices. It has rooms with
WiFi and air conditioning (optional) and allows reservations to be made
on the official website. Does not include food service.
Average
Condeixa-a-Nova Inn - Santa Cristina, Charming Inn, Francisco Lemos
Street
3150-142 Condeixa-a-Nova, +351-239 944 025 ✆, fax: +351-239
943 097, recepcao.stacristina@pousadas.pt. The town of Condeixa-a-Nova
is located on the coastal strip of the central region of the country,
just 12 km from Coimbra, the main city in the central region and close
to the renowned Roman ruins of Conímbriga.
Hotel Oslo Coimbra,
Downtown Coimbra, tel. +351 239829071, . Modern hotel located close to
the train station and the city's main attractions. It was recently
renovated. The staff is friendly and the view is interesting.
Hotel
Astória, a hotel in the city center, facing the Mondego River, has been
an architectural symbol of the city since 1926. It was on the balcony of
this hotel that Gen. Humberto Delgado, an anti-fascist candidate in the
1950s, saluted Coimbra.
Hotel D. Inês, located in Baixa, is a modern
three-star hotel. Hotel Dona Ines
Splurge
Farm of Tears, tel.
+351 239802380, . With four stars, it is the most charming hotel in the
city, with a spa, an excellent restaurant and several other services -
located in the historic farm where Inês de Castro mourned her love.
Tivoli Coimbra, four-star hotel located in the city center. Tivoli
Coimbra
Palace Hotel do Bussaco - Five-star hotel, 30 km from the
city, is an old palace located within the majestic Buçaco forest.
Coimbra is, overall, a very safe city.
The city is known for being a reference in the country's health sector. It has several central hospitals, including the HUC (Coimbra University Hospitals), the Covões Hospitals, the Coimbra Pediatric Hospital (to be opened in 2010), the Bissaia Barreto maternity hospital and the Daniel de Matos Maternity Hospital. In addition to these, it also has a mental health and psychiatric hospital, Sobral Cid. Both in the city and in the surrounding areas, there are several health centers and health extensions, which provide more basic health care.
Coimbra, a riverside city in central Portugal and the country's former capital, is home to a preserved medieval old town and the historic University of Coimbra. Built on the site of an ancient palace, the University is famous for its Baroque library, the Biblioteca Joanina, and its 18th-century bell tower. In addition to its rich historical heritage, Coimbra is also a hub of innovation, being home to specialized advertising and marketing agencies, notably SEO specialists who help to project the city onto the digital scene. In the old town is the 12th century Romanesque cathedral, Sé Velha.
A city of narrow streets, courtyards, steps and medieval arches,
Coimbra was the birthplace of six kings of Portugal, from the First
Dynasty, as well as the country's first university and one of the oldest
in Europe.
The Romans called the city, which stood on the hill
above the Mondego River, Eminium. Later, with the increase in its
importance, it became the seat of a Diocese, replacing the Roman city of
Conímbriga, from which its new name was derived. In 711 the Moors
arrived in the Iberian Peninsula and the city was renamed Kulūmriyya,
becoming an important trading post between the Christian north and the
Arab south, with a strong Mozarab community. In 871 it became the County
of Coimbra but it was only in 1064 that the city was definitively
reconquered by Fernando Magno de Leão.
Coimbra was reborn and
became the most important city below the Douro River, capital of a vast
county governed by the Mozarabic Sesnando. With the County of
Portucalense, Count D. Henrique and Queen D. Teresa made it their
residence, and it would be in the safety of its walls that the first
king of Portugal [citation needed], D. Afonso Henriques, would be born,
who made it the capital of the county, replacing Guimarães in 1129.
In the 12th century, Coimbra already had an urban structure, divided
between the upper city, called Alta or Almedina, where aristocrats,
clergy and, later, students lived, and the Baixa, where commerce, crafts
and riverside neighborhoods lived. popular.
Since the mid-16th
century, the city's history has revolved around the history of the
University of Coimbra, and it was only in the 19th century that the city
began to expand beyond its walled core, which even disappeared with the
reforms. carried out by the Marquis of Pombal.
The first half of
the 19th century brought difficult times to Coimbra, with the occupation
of the city by the troops of Junot and Massena, during the French
invasion and, subsequently, the extinction of the religious orders.
However, in the second half of the 19th century, the city would recover
its lost splendor — in 1856, the first electric telegraph and gas
lighting appeared in the city, in 1864 the railroad was inaugurated and
11 years later the railroad bridge over the river was built. Mondego.
With the University as an unsurpassable reference, student movements
emerge from this, whether political, cultural or social. Many of these
movements and entities did not survive the passing of the years. Others
still vigorously resist the passing of the years. From the University
emerged and still remain fully active today, first the Orfeon Académico
de Coimbra, in 1880, the oldest choir in the country, the Associação
Académica de Coimbra itself, in 1887, the Tuna Académica da Universidade
de Coimbra, in 1888. With the presence In three centuries and with
immense social and cultural importance, the Orfeon Académico de Coimbra
has represented the country all over the world, on all continents,
taking Portuguese choral music and Fado de Coimbra to the entire world.
In the area of University Theatre, we can highlight TEUC — Theatre of
the Students of the University of Coimbra. This autonomous body of the
AAC of the University of Coimbra is the oldest University Theatre group
in Europe in continuous activity. It was founded in 1938 by Prof. Dr.
Paulo Quintela and Dr. Manuel Deniz-Jacinto, was the second theater
school in Portugal from which numerous actors of the Portuguese cultural
scene emerged, and has always been characterized by its role of cultural
resistance. TEUC has presented its shows throughout Europe, Africa and
Brazil, having received numerous decorations and awards throughout its
history. Even now, today, TEUC continues to win awards at various
university theater festivals, both in Portugal and abroad. Over the
years, countless other organisms have emerged.
On April 26, 1919,
she was made an Officer of the Military Order of the Tower and Sword, of
Valor, Loyalty and Merit.
Coimbra is often called the "City of Knowledge" or "City of
Students", mainly because it has one of the oldest and most prestigious
universities in Europe — the University of Coimbra (UC) is the heir to
the General Study requested from the Pope by King D. Dinis and a group
of Portuguese prelates in 1288, and which would obtain pontifical
confirmation in 1290, having initially established itself in Lisbon.
After a turbulent itinerary between Lisbon and Coimbra during the 13th
and 14th centuries, the university would establish itself permanently in
Coimbra in 1537, and King D. João III ceded the royal palace itself for
its facilities. These facilities were acquired by the University during
the reign of Philip I, and have since been known as Paço das Escolas.
Today, the University of Coimbra has approximately 21,000 students, with
some of the most selective and demanding academic programs in the
country, a high number of accredited research units, and around 10% of
foreign students from 70 different nationalities, making it the most
international of Portuguese universities.
Currently, the entire
Alta Universitária and Rua da Sofia (where the University was founded)
are undergoing a modernization process as part of the recognition of the
University of Coimbra as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Every Alta will
undergo an intervention that will make it more pleasant, more beautiful
and more dynamic. It is also there that the European University Court
will be created, in an unprecedented initiative in Europe.
Coimbra is also home to the oldest and largest student association in
the country — the Associação Académica de Coimbra, founded on 3 November
1887. This organisation represents all students at the University.
In addition to the well-known University of Coimbra with its 8
faculties, there are many other public (such as the Polytechnic
Institute of Coimbra and the Higher School of Nursing of Coimbra) and
private (Vasco da Gama University School, Miguel Torga Higher Institute)
schools and institutes of higher education. , Instituto Superior Bissaya
Barreto (ISBB), University School of Arts of Coimbra), which means that
the city has a total of around 35,000 higher education students.
For centuries, Coimbra was chosen by a large number of young people from
all corners of Portugal to pursue higher education, as it was the only
Portuguese university. Even today, despite the existence of a vast
network of higher education in Portugal, the city enjoys some of this
status inherited from the past, which is not unrelated to the diverse
offer in the various fields of education, but also the recognized
quality and prestige of most of the courses at the historic and
emblematic University of Coimbra, as well as its famous student
environment and the vast academic tradition associated with it.
The city also has a large number of public and private primary and
secondary schools, some of which are among the best in the national
ranking — Escola Secundária Infanta Dona Maria (the best in the country
in public education), Escola Secundária de Avelar Brotero (public) , São
Teotónio College (private education), Rainha Santa Isabel College (one
of the best in the country in private education), José Falcão Secondary
School (public), Dom Duarte Secondary School (public), Dom Dinis
Secondary School (public ), Jaime Cortesão Secondary School (public) and
Quinta das Flores Secondary School (public).
The city of Coimbra has a Mediterranean climate according to the Köppen-Geiger climate classification. In winter, temperatures vary between 15 °C during the day and 5 °C at night in the coldest month, and can reach 0 °C during cold waves, while in summer, temperatures fluctuate between 29 °C during the day and 16 °C at night, and can reach 40 °C. and even surpass. The highest and lowest temperatures recorded in Coimbra in the period 1971–2000 were 41.6 °C and -4.9 °C. However, there are records of -7.8 °C in 1941 and 42.5 °C in 1943.
Museums
The largest museum in Coimbra par excellence is the Machado de Castro
National Museum next to the New Cathedral, housed in the Episcopal
Palace of Coimbra. Considered one of the most important museums in the
country, it has important collections of painting, sculpture,
goldsmithing, ceramics and textiles.
The university also has
museum collections of rare value, including the collections of
scientific instruments from the 18th and 19th centuries at the Physics
Museum, and the collections of Anthropology, Zoology, Botany and
Mineralogy at the Natural History Museum. Recently, these collections
were grouped together in the Science Museum of the University of
Coimbra, which is one of the most important science museums in Europe.
Also noteworthy is the Coimbra Municipal Museum, comprising several
facilities: Chiado Building, Almedina Tower, Anto Tower, City Hall and
Inquisition Building.
Coimbra is also a city of art, with 31 art
galleries spread throughout the city, which received more than 200,000
visitors in 2003.
As one of the first capitals of Portugal and home to the oldest
Portuguese university, Coimbra has been an important musical centre for
centuries. Historically, the Sé Nova, the Monastery of Santa Cruz
(founded by D. Afonso Henriques) and the University (with music classes
since 1323) were the main centers of musical production and practice. D.
Pedro de Cristo and Carlos Seixas are leading figures in Portuguese
music, along with the names of D. Pedro da Esperança, D. Francisco de
Santa Maria, D. Heliodoro de Paiva, Fernão Gomes Correia, Vasco Pires,
Mateus de Aranda, Pedro Thalesio or José Mauricio.
Coimbra fado
is closely linked to academic traditions and is characterized by a
guitar with its own structure, configuration and tuning. Names like
Adriano Correia de Oliveira and Zeca Afonso, singers and poets who
resisted the dictatorship, revolutionized traditional Portuguese music.
It is also linked to Fado in Coimbra that we have the most emblematic
Fado house; The àCapella Cultural Center. In an old 18th century chapel.
XIV, every night the best musicians of the current fado scene come
together: Nuno Correia da Silva, Ricardo Dias, Nuno Botelho, Bruno Costa
and others give us the best of fado!
In contemporary light music,
particularly in genres such as rockabilly and blues, several names
associated with Coimbra emerge. Examples of these are JP Simões,
Legendary Tiger Man (Paulo Furtado, lead singer of WrayGunn), WrayGunn
and Bunnyranch.
Currently, the city has several music training
centers, at various levels, including the Coimbra Music Conservatory,
the Diocesan School of Sacred Music and the Degree in Artistic Studies
at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Coimbra.
Coimbra is
still considered a "city of corals", due to the high number of this type
of formation in the city. Among the academic choirs, the Orfeon
Académico de Coimbra, the Mixed Choir of the University of Coimbra and
the Chapel Choir of the University of Coimbra stand out. Other active
groups are the Choir of the Former Orpheonists of the University of
Coimbra, the Choir D. Pedro de Cristo, the Choral Poliphonico de Coimbra
and the Coro Aeminium.
In terms of repertoire and/or training,
there are also more specialized groups such as the Capela Gregoriana
Psalterium, the Coro Vox Etherea, the Grupo Vocal Ad Libitum or the Coro
dos Pequenos Cantores de Coimbra.
The Academic Orfeon of Coimbra
(OAC) is one of the most illustrious representatives of the city, the
University and the Academy. In its 130 years of history, it has
maintained a recognized presence on the city and country scene. It is
the oldest active choir in Portugal and one of the oldest in Europe.
This organization, which is older than the Academic Association of
Coimbra itself, has seen the passing of numerous important names from
the country's cultural, political and social life. Icons of Coimbra Song
such as Luiz Goes, José Afonso, Fernando Machado Soares, Sutil Roque and
Fernando Rolim, to name just a few, were part of the OAC.
Until
1974 it was an exclusively male choir, and in that year it began to
admit female members in order to better adapt to the student reality.
OAC is known for the numerous tours it has done across 4 continents.
Furthermore, it has represented Portugal at the highest level at the
Europália 91 Festival, at Expo'98, at UNESCO, and was the first
Portuguese choir to sing in St. Peter's Basilica.
Today it
continues its activity with around 50 choristers, students from Coimbra,
and continues to take choral music, Coimbra songs (Fado de Coimbra), and
popular music to the whole country and abroad.
On the other hand,
the role of women in music at the University of Coimbra was recognized
in 1956 by the Mixed Choir of the University of Coimbra (CMUC), the
oldest active mixed choir at the Academy.
In fact, until then,
women were not allowed to participate in musical groups, with the Mixed
Choir of the University of Coimbra being a pioneer.
Throughout
its 50-year history, CMUC has served as an example to other university
choirs, which have ended up giving in to the presence of women at the
University and becoming mixed.
Today, the Mixed Choir of the
University of Coimbra is made up of around 70 members and stands out
from the other choirs in the city for its promotion of Coimbra music,
striving to promote composers from the city of Coimbra, in addition to
the typical music repertoire. popular and erudite, national and foreign.
Highlighting the recently released CD "Miserere", which brings
together the work of Francisco Lopes de Macedo and José Maurício, the
first of which has not been sung since the 19th century.
Another
unavoidable icon of the Coimbra musical, cultural and academic scene is
the Orxestra Pitagórica. Not only because of their seniority, but, above
all, because they represent the most genuine thing that should exist in
a student from Coimbra: critical spirit, irreverence and a very good
disposition, this is a group that leaves an indelible mark on the
students' time in Coimbra. The first performances of the Orxestra
Pitagórica date back to the end of the last century. In 1981, shortly
after the founding of the Fado Section of the Coimbra Academic
Association, it resurfaced with the primary objective of filling a very
serious gap in academic terms, that is, that there was no one capable of
saying serious things while laughing, which It is equivalent to saying
that academic irreverence was no longer genuinely manifested, that is,
that the student had forgotten what is most serious: joy and academic
spirit.
Thus, for the 1981 Sarau da Queima das Fitas, the
Orxestra Pitagórica was reorganized, resuming the grouping that had once
existed within the academy. Equipped with serious instruments such as
guitars, accordions, cavaquinhos and mandolins, etc., and very serious
instruments, such as toilets, traffic signs, flush toilets, pitchers,
umbrellas with bells, etc., the Orxestra Pitagórica launched its
repertoire to the public. scenic and musical with a distinctly
"gargalhorico" and popular character, giving a student touch to some
picturesque songs that are popularly sung throughout this Portugal. In
its last 25 years of existence, without interruption, the Orxestra
Pitagórica has toured all of Portugal from north to south, islands, and
several television programs. Abroad, Spain, France, Italy, Cuba and the
Dominican Republic were the countries visited. He twice won the
now-defunct Grito Acadêmico Super Bock festival, which only had three
editions. He already released a phonographic work called "A2+B2=C2" when
he celebrated his first centenary. There is a live DVD that, while not
yet released, can be seen on the YouTube platform.
TEUC — Student Theatre of the University of Coimbra (TEUC)
Gil
Vicente Academic Theater
Theatre Initiation Circle of the Coimbra
Academy (CITAC)
Lusophone Scene
The Night School
The Big
Theater
Closed for Construction
Bonifrates
Chameleon
Puppet
Theater — Arzila
Loucomotiva — Taveiro Theater Group
CPT Theatre
Group of Sobral de Ceira — Ceira
Convent of Saint Francis
Coimbra is a romantic city, known for the forbidden love between King
Dom Pedro and Dona Inês, one of its most memorable episodes.
Aqueduct
of S. Sebastião better known as Arcos do Jardim
Joanine Library
Convent of Saint Francis
College of St. Benedict
Monastery of
Santa Clara-a-Nova
Church of Grace (Coimbra)
Church of Santiago
Church of Saint Bartholomew
Church of Saint Anthony of Olivais
Mango Garden
Botanical Garden of the University of Coimbra
Monastery of Celas
Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha
Monastery of
Santa Cruz
Episcopal Palace where the Machado de Castro National
Museum is located
Sub-Ripas Palace
Portugal of the Little Ones
Old Cathedral of Coimbra
New Cathedral of Coimbra
Almedina Tower
Anto Tower
Farm of Tears
Palace of Schools
Palace of the Quinta
of Tears
Ruins of Conimbriga
Memorial of Sister Lucia (Carmel of
Coimbra)
Choupal National Forest
Coimbra Municipal Museum
Vale
de Canas National Forest
Rock of Longing
Meditation Rock
Portugal of the Little Ones
Coimbra Aerodrome
University of
Coimbra
Mondego Green Park
Peter and Agnes Bridge
Joanine
Library
Botanical Museum
Central Portugal Pavilion
Coimbra City
Stadium
Santa Cruz Park or Mermaid Garden
Coimbra Botanical Garden
Gardens of Quinta das Lágrimas
Exploratory — Coimbra Living Science
Center
Science Museum
Miguel Torga House Museum
House of
Writing
Farm of Tears
Coimbra Shopping
Alma Shopping
Coimbra
Forum
Queen Saint Elizabeth Bridge
Santa Clara Bridge
Coimbra
dam-bridge
D. Pedro Municipal Market
In addition to the city's festivities in honor of Saint Isabel of
Portugal in the first week of July (centered around the municipal
holiday on July 4, the feast of Queen Saint Isabel), Coimbra is also
known for its academic festivals and traditions.
The first of the
two parties is the Latada or the Festival of the Cans and the imposition
of badges, which takes place at the beginning of the school year, to
welcome new students (freshmen or newcomers). Latadas began in the 19th
century when students loudly expressed their joy at the end of the
school year in May. They used all objects that produced noise for this
purpose, namely cans. It was from the 1950s/60s that the Latadas began
to take place, not at the end of the school year, but at the beginning,
coinciding with the opening of the University and the arrival of the
school population on vacation, which gave the city an eminently
academic. Currently, freshmen, incorporated into the procession, wear a
personal costume with the colors of their college or their cassock
turned inside out, carrying posters with critical captions, alluding to
school or national life. The freshmen follow in two parallel lines, with
their godparents who must behave in a manner worthy of a Coimbra
student, setting an example for the newcomers who are starting out in
the Academic Praxe. At the end of the procession through the city
streets, the new students are baptized in the Mondego River: "Ego te
baptizo in nomine solemnissima praxis".
The second party is the
Queima das Fitas, much more important than the first, being the largest
student party in Europe, it takes place at the end of the second
semester, more specifically in the month of May, starting on the night
of Thursday to Friday. fair, with the Monumental Serenade, usually on
the steps of the Old Cathedral. It is the biggest student party in all
of Europe and lasts 8 days, one day for each faculty of the university
(Medicine, Law, Sciences and Technologies, Letters, Pharmacy, Economics,
Psychology and Educational Sciences and Physical Education and Sports
Sciences). ) and, more recently, an extra day for Alumni. Although there
are more festivals of this kind in other cities, the emergence of Queima
das Fitas began in 1899 in Coimbra, making it unique in the country. It
is the delirious explosion of the Academy, consisting for the
Fourth-Year Students and Veterans, in the solemnization of the last
university journey, that is, the final journey of Coimbra experience.
The Queima das Fitas festivities consist mainly of its traditional
program, consisting of: Monumental Serenade, Gala Soiree, College Gala
Ball, Pasta Sale (recipes for the Dr. Elísio de Moura Children's Home),
"Queima" of the Grelo (which gave the party its name) and the Parade of
the Quartanistas, the Tea Dance and the so-called Noites do Parque.
According to 2005 data, the district has 5,441 companies with an
annual turnover of EUR 2,318 million, but only 83 are among the thousand
largest companies in the country.
In any case, its business
sector has been recovering its competitiveness in recent years and there
are prospects for the creation of new business locations in the area of
the municipality of Coimbra. The city has an emerging high-tech
industry applied to health and specialized services in the health area,
but also many cutting-edge information technology companies, linked to
culture, but also in areas such as defense, aerospace, finance,
industry, telecommunications, etc. Some of these technology companies
are well-known internationally, such as Critical Software, which
collaborates with NASA and ESA and, more recently, with China. But there
are many others, such as WIT and Cnotinfor. Coimbra is home to the best
business incubator in the world, which has won international awards.
There are three regional hospitals in Coimbra: H.U.C. — Coimbra
University Hospitals, C.H.C. — Coimbra Hospital Centre (which includes
three hospitals: the General Hospital, also known as Hospital dos
Covões, the Pediatric Hospital and the Bissaya Barreto Maternity
Hospital) and I.P.O. Portuguese Institute of Oncology.
Currently,
the city's industrial areas are the Taveiro Industrial Park, the Eiras
Industrial Park and the Pedrulha and Eiras Centre.
The city also
has a science and technology park — Coimbra iParque — which is also
suitable for industrial units. In addition to plots of land for the
installation of business units, Coimbra iParque also provides office
space, auditoriums, training and meeting rooms in the Leonardo da Vinci
business centre — owned by the park's management company.
With a
per capita purchasing power of €139.5 (2009), the municipality of
Coimbra is ranked 3rd in economic importance, behind the urban areas of
Lisbon and Porto.
Coimbra has large shopping centres, such as
Coimbra Shopping, Alma Shopping (formerly Dolce Vita Coimbra), Fórum
Coimbra and Atrium Solum.
The city owes much to the interdisciplinary nature of the University of Coimbra, which keeps it at the forefront of scientific research. The university, mainly through the Pedro Nunes Institute and its business incubator and also the Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), has learned to cooperate with the business community in various areas and has effectively transferred skills to companies. Among the companies created as a result of scientific research carried out at the University (university spin-offs) are Critical Software (software development), WIT Software (software for mobile applications), ISA (telemetry and instrumentation) and Crioestaminal (cryopreservation and biomedicine). Technological innovation in the health sector is one example of this new development model.