Story Studio
Coimbra Centro

The University of Coimbra is the oldest in the country and one of the oldest in the world. Initially confined to the Royal Palace, the University was extended to the rest of the city, changing its landscape, making it the “university city” and responsible for the label "Coimbra, City of Knowledge".

Considered by The Telegraph newspaper as one of the most beautiful in the world, the Joanina Library was built in the 17th century, using gold reserves recently discovered in Brazil. It is located in the Paço das Escolas of the University of Coimbra.

Coronation site of the second King of Portugal, D. Sancho I, is the stage in its emblematic staircase of the Monumental Serenade that marks the beginning of Queima das Fitas. That night, when the 12 chimes sounded, the students, dressed with their crossed capes over their shoulders, lined up in a chorus of silence to listen to Fado.

The Santa Cruz Monastery is one of the oldest and most important monuments in Coimbra, founded in 1131. Declared a National Pantheon, the first two Kings of Portugal are buried here: D. Afonso Henriques and D. Sancho I.

Also known as ‘Arcos do Jardim’, given its location adjacent to the Botanical Garden of the University of Coimbra, this aqueduct was built in 1570 by King D. Sebastião, to supply water to the city’s Alta.​

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Located on the banks of the Mondego River, it was initially embargoed by the Canons Regrantes de Santo Agostinho. Years later, in 1314, Queen Santa Isabel became interested in the refoundation of the monastery, ordering the construction of new buildings, of which the cloister and the church stand out.

Monastery dedicated to the Queen Santa Isabel, dating from the 17th century, was built to replace the Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha, repeatedly attacked by the floods of the Mondego. This monument has recently undergone a major requalification and is a tourist-cultural asset in the city.

Portugal dos Pequenitos is the oldest theme park in the country, open since 1940. This theme park offers representations of buildings from the city of Coimbra, Portuguese culture and old colonial territories on a small scale.

One of the most symbolic places in the tragic love story between D. Pedro de Portugal and D. Inês de Castro. In this place, the couple exchanged the vows of their forbidden love. Luís de Camões also created the legend that Inês blood was trapped in the rocks of the bed of Fonte das Lágrimas, making the waters reddish today.

Named after the renowned sculptor Machado de Castro, this is one of the most important museums of Fine Arts in Portugal. It has been integrated since 2013 in the area classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Located in the heart of the city of Coimbra since 1772, at the initiative of the Marquês de Pombal, it extends over more than 13 hectares on land donated, the most part, by the Benedictine friars. The collections of plants that fill each space transport us to different latitudes and regions of the world, transforming the Garden into a true living museum.

Unique expression in the world that invokes the most Portuguese of all feelings: longing. Whether from lost loves, from Coimbra or from the academy, the poems echoed by the voices covered by crossed capes over their shoulders are an experience not to be missed.