Coimbra - University, Cathedrals and Jardim Bonânico

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4 April 2012

Coimbra is a famous university town in Portugal. It's also the oldest, a town with honor, shares the nationhood, once a capital made by King Alfonso and strong association with history. With IC train it takes about 1 hour 10 minutes from Porto to Coimbra B. Then one has to take a connecting train to the town centre. The distance is 2 kilometres.

Our second day was blessed with sunshine, superb to appreciate the city with the university atop.  The clock tower at the university square can be seen everywhere.  The university was first established in Lisbon but transferred to Coimbra King Alfonso Palace in 1537.  Study was very limited, mostly theology, medicine and law but broadened by the reform from Pombal in 1770s.  Many buildings were replaced in 1940s.  But the halls around the Patio das Escolas have been standing over 700 years.

Visiting the patio is free.  But you will want to see the interior.  There are different types of tickets entitling you to see the different parts.  We opt for the chapel, library and the examination hall.  The library, Biblioteco Jaonina, is Baroque style, built in 18th century.  It is very beautiful inside, too nice to be focused on study.  Rosewood bookshelves and elobarately frescoed ceilings.  It is for appreciation, enjoyment but too extravagant for study.  The examination is also too spendid for the original purpose.  It looks like a theatre.


Apart from admiring the beauty of the architecture of the university, the other advantage is to have a panoramic view of the city, the old and new cathedral.










The fortress style old Cathedral is regarded as the nicest Romanesque church in Portugal.  It was a celebration of the triumph over Moors in 1064.



The new Cathedral was founded by the Jesuits at the end of 16th century.  Its facade is elaborated and exquisite.  The interior balances the exterior with high level of art pieces.


Walking around the town it's easy to spot artistic graffiti.  Not sure if it is because of the university, the more cultural nature, the graffiti are very beautiful, of a much higher level than those randomly in big cities or metropolitan.
 

Jardim Bonânico is the largest botanical garden in Portugal.  It was established in 1772 when Pombal introduced natural history study in the university.  The gardens are for research purposes but also laid out as a leisure garden.  At the entrance stands an aqueduct dated 16th century.








Location: Coimbra, Portugal

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