Attractions

The Museu Nacional Machado de Castro is a centenary museum in an ancient building.

It was created in 1911 and opened to the public in 1913.

Today, it has been expanded and renovated, offering a relaxing and inspiring atmosphere.

Awards:

- Prémio Acesso Cultura 2015
- PIRANESI - Prix de Rome 2014
- Melhor Museu Português 2013 |APOM
- Medalha de Ouro da Cidade de Coimbra 2013
- Melhor Intervenção de Conservação e restauro 2012 | APOM
- Finalista EMYA 2012 | European Museum Year Awards

The Biblioteca Joanina was built between 1717 and 1728.

Here, students and researchers can consult more than 300,000 volumes dating back to the 16th century. XVI until the end of the century. XVIII kept in the archives that occupy the three floors of the building.

Count Raczinski wrote about it in "Les Arts au Portugal": it is the most beautiful, most richly decorated library I have ever seen.

On one of the back walls, a large canvas, dating from 1730, portrays the founder, D. João V.

They are the result of an urban intervention carried out during the Estado Novo period and which covered a vast area - known as the Alta Universitária. They connect Praça D. Dinis to Rua de Oliveira Matos and Praça da República.

The intervention, which aimed to concentrate all the faculties and services assigned to the University of Coimbra in the upper part of the city, took place during the 50s, extending into the 60s.

All the urban reorganization carried out was aimed at increasing the concentration of students, reducing their circulation in the city and allowing better control of their activity.

The Escadas Monumentais, like all interventions on the high rise, are characterized by the grandiose and austere style of the architecture of the Estado Novo.

During the 1969 Academic Crisis, they were one of the stages of student protest, as well as the repression and police charge exercised by the dictatorship of the Estado Novo.

Sé Velha de Coimbra, is one of the most important Romanesque buildings in the country.

Its construction began sometime in 1146, when Afonso Henriques was declared king of Portugal and chose Coimbra as the capital of the kingdom.

The exterior is robust, symmetrical, with few openings and crowning battlements, with a portal decorated under Islamic influence. Inside, the altarpiece in the chancel stands out, as well as the Cloister, the first Gothic experience in Portugal.

Today, the Sé Velha is the stage for one of the most important moments in the journey of any student in Coimbra, the emblematic monumental Serenade that marks the beginning of the Queima das Fitas.

That night, when the clock strikes twelve, the students, all dressed up, line up in a silent chorus to listen to Fado. For some, the first time they wear black marks the beginning of a long journey; for others, it's time to say goodbye and take with them all the experiences and learning that the city has provided them.

The Casa Museu Bissaya Barreto was the residence of Fernando Bissaya Barreto, a notable figure as a professor, surgeon and philanthropist in the city of Coimbra.

This neo-baroque inspired building, built in 1925, is surrounded by an elegant garden, decorated with statues and tiles. The museum maintains the original decoration of the house and among the highlights are also paintings of 18th century tiles, including national and Chinese porcelain, and furniture in the Johannine style, with pieces acquired from local artists and items collected over 50 years.

Located in front of the Botanical Garden and next to an aqueduct, the museum is close to other tourist attractions in Coimbra.

São Sebastião Aqueduct, also known as Arcos do Jardim, is one of the city's most emblematic historical landmarks, 1km long and has 21 arches. Its origins date back to 1568, although it is built on Roman ruins.

After visiting the aqueduct, a good option is to explore the Botanical Garden, which is opposite. This space is recognized worldwide for its beauty and diversity of species, ideal for those looking for a moment of tranquility and contact with nature.

The Coimbra Major Seminary is a landmark institution in the upper part of the city, close to the Botanical Gardens. This place is notable for its impressive Italian art, with over 250 years of history. The seminar offers a unique experience of culture and spirituality, closely connecting with the city of Coimbra​.