On the high banks of the Mondego River, Coimbra is a city with the oldest university in the country. The prestige of this school will hit you when you step onto the Paço das Escolas courtyard. In this rich ensemble of buildings is one of the finest libraries you’ll ever set foot in. The university is found precisely where Portugal’s first kings had taken up residence centuries before, and the city’s monasteries have tombs for these rulers. For culture, you’ll learn about the tragic love affair between the medieval Prince Pedro I and the noblewoman Inês, while Coimbra has its own genre of fado music that also originated at the university.

The University of Coimbra is a Portuguese public university established in 1290 in Lisbon

The Old Cathedral of Coimbra (Portuguese: Sé Velha de Coimbra) is a Romanesque Roman Catholic building in Portugal. Construction of the Sé Velha began some time after the Battle of Ourique (1139), when Prince Afonso Henriques declared himself King of Portugal and chose Coimbra as capital.

This esteemed Baroque library is on the Paço das Escolas, where Portugal’s earliest kings once lived. It goes back to the 1720s and needs to be seen to be believed. The library is composed of three vast salons, bounded by monumental doorways. Each salon has tall lacquered and gilded shelves, and enormous study tables made with dark hardwood shipped over from Brazil. There are more than 250,000 volumes here, dating from the 1500s to the 1700s and dealing with history, geography, medicine, law and science. One of the curious things you’ll learn about the library is that it maintains a colony of bats bred to eat insects that would damage the books.

Aveiro was a little fishermen’s village surrounded by the sea and occupied by Ria, a shallow coast lagoon. The city has for centuries been growing and developing around its many canals, which gave birth to the nickname, “Portuguese Venice”, but also underlining this deep connection to the sea life and the surrounding nature. Aveiro is surrounded by salt-flats, amazing beaches and small lagoons that still preserve the fauna, the flora, and the traditions of the city.

In the old quarter it is still possible to see the original facades of the quaint colorful houses of the old fishermen. Not even a 10 minutes walk from the city center you will arrive at the Eco-museum and receive a closer look at the salt production or even dig your feet in the salt flats. But not only the sea rules Aveiro traditions: amazing examples of art noveau buildings are hiding around every corner. We challenge you to find them all! For a city tour with a different perspective, there is nothing better than hopping on a traditional boat, “Moliceiro”, and exploring the Central Canal. An elegant and perfectly designed boat, painted with vivid colors and humorous decorations.