A Walk Through Coimbra, March 19, 2023

Another sunny and warm day (24c) and we are eager to get out and explore the upper and lower parts of old town Coimbra. 

We walked down to the lower part of town just outside of the old city walls to the main square, Largo da Portagem.  Most of these buildings are from the early 1900's with the lower floors given up to cafes and restaurants.  We stopped for a coffee at Pastelaria Briosa, famous for its selection of local pastries and enjoyed the people watching.

 Walking down the main pedestrian street, Rua de Ferreira Borges, with its many outdoor cafes 

At the end of the pedestrian street is the Church of Santa Cruz. founded in 1131, with the current church being completed in 1530.  

 The interior of the church, looking down from the upper level choir room, is designed in the manueline style.  The wooden Baroque style organ and blue tiles on both sides of the lower walls were added in the 18th century.

The Barbican Gate is one of the few remaining pieces of Coimbra's defensive walls and was the original entrance to the city in Moorish times and is the start to the steep climb up to the university.

 

The Old Cathedral was consecrated in 1184 and is designed as a church-fortress due to the fear that the Moors would return to try and re-take the town.

We stopped for a late lunch at Restaurant O Trovador located just across from the Old Church.  Rita had a very tasty lunch of Cod fillet covered with breadcrumbs.  I however decided to try a traditional Portuguese dish, Acorda de Camarao (Shrimp Soup) which consists of bread, tomato, olive oil, prawn brine and garlic all mushed together and mixed with cooked prawns, topped with a raw egg.  I did finish most of it but it was not my favorite meal.   

After our lunch we continued to climb up through the narrow cobbled streets until we get to the top just outside of the university campus.

Just outside of the university is the New Cathedral of Coimbra.  New is a relative term as construction of the church was started by the Jesuits in 1598 and took 100 years to be completed.  In 1759 the Jesuits were expelled from Portugal and the church has been a Catholic Cathedral since 1772.      

 

We got back to our hotel in time for the six o'clock glass of wine and took it up to our balcony to enjoy the sunshine.  It was a full day of exploring this lovely, historic town.