The charming town of Coimbra is dominated by the tall tower of its old university. The town is situated on a hiilside overlooking the Mondego river. It is still obviously divided into the upper town, the traditional university and religious quarter and the lower town, the shopping area.
ACCOMODATION:
The town boasts plenty of accommodation from budget offering to tempt students to palatial luxury in fromer quintas or country estates.
PLACES OF INTEREST:
Old Town: Go through the Porta de Almedina and you are into a maze of re-roofed hoses and narrow streets. A leisurely walk about its most charming areas takes around three hours.
Se Velha: The old cathedral was built in the 12th century and is often thought to be one of Portugal's oldest with a strong French influence from its architects.
Universidade Velha: The old university is housed in buildings that once belonged to the royal palace. The chapel and library are particularly attractive built in the 17th and 18th centuries respectively.
Cathedral Area: Always liveliest during term time, the district boasts plenty of cafes and bars, many of which have live music and are a magnet for the younger generation.
Figueira de Foz: Bright and lively beach resort a short distance drive from Coimbra.
LOCAL DELICACIES:
The most famous contribution to Portuguese cuisine from this area is mealhada or roast sucking pig. Many roadside cafes serve it especially around the area of the town which gave the dish its name. Cheese, especially from goats and ewe's milk, is also popular.
TO THE STADIUM:
The Coimbra City stadium will seat 30,000 after extending the current capacity of 15,000 by creating a second tier right around the ground. The roof will only extend for three sides leaving the view to the North completely open.
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