Coimbra Municipality
Encyclopedia
Coimbra is a municipality in central Portugal
, whose core is the city of Coimbra
. It is in the district of Coimbra
, being the principal centre in the Centro region, the seat of the Baixo Mondego
subregion and former capital of Portugal during the Middle Ages
. According to the 2011 Census
the municipality had a population of 143,052 inhabitants (from which about 100,000 in the city proper), covering an area of 319.4 km², while over 430,000 people live in the Greater Metropolitan Area of Coimbra
, comprising 16 municipalities and extending into an area 3,372 km². Apart from Lisbon and Porto, Coimbra is one of the most important urban centres in Portugal playing a central role in the development of the northern-central littoral and interior.
Its history and role is based on its earliest settlement, dating back to the Roman era
centre of Aeminium
and developing from its role as cultural, educational, religious and administrative centre during the Middle-Ages. From its early settlement on the hilltop overlooking the Mondego River, Coimbra began to evolve its influence and control occupying a central place in the interior of Portugal.
came from its earliest settlement as the civitas
Aeminium
, a name derived from the early settlement's topography: o meneiu means top of hill in Latin
. It fell under the influence, administratively, of the larger Roman villa of Conimbriga
(in Condeixa-a-Nova), until the latter was sacked by the Sueves and Visigoths between 569-589 and abandoned. Although Conimbriga had been administratively important, Aeminium affirmed its position by being situated at the confluence of the north-south traffic that connected the Roman Bracara Augusta (later Braga
) and Olisipo (later Lisbon
), while its waterway allowed connectivity into the interior and coast. The limestone table on which the settlement grew has a dominant position overlooking the Mondego, circled by fertile lands irrigated by its waters. Vestiges of this early history include the cryptoporticus
of the former Roman forum (now part of the Museu Nacional de Machado de Castro).
The move and settlement of the first Christian Bishops of Conimbriga to Aeminium resulted in the name change to Conimbriga, evolving later to Colimbria. During the Visigothic era (around the 8th century), the County of Coimbra
was instituted by King Wittiza
; a sub-county of his dominion, it was established as a fief for his son Prince Ardabast (or Sisebuto), with its seat in Emínio(the Visigothic name for Coimbra), which persisted until the Muslim invasion from the south.
The first Muslim campaigns that occupied the Iberian peninsula occurred between 711 and 715, with Coimbra capitulating to Musa bin Nusair
in 714. Although it was not a large settlement, Qulumriyah, in the context of Al-Andalus
, was the largest agglomerated centre along the northern Tagus valley, and its principal city boasted a walled enclosure of 10 hectares, supporting between 3000 and 5000 inhabitants. Remnants of this period include the beginnings of the Almedina
, Arrabalde
and the fortified palace used by the city's governor (which was later converted into the Royal Palace by the early Portuguese monarchs). The Christian Reconquista
forced Muslim forces to abandon the region temporarily. Successively the Moors retook the castle in 987-1064 and again in 1116, capturing two castles constructed to protect the territory: in Miranda da Beira (where the garrison was slaughtered) and in Santa Eulália (where the governor rendered his forces rather than facing a similar massacre).
Sisnando Davides
to reorganize the economy and administer the lands encircling the city. The County of Portucale and the County of Coimbra
were later integrated into one dominion under the stewardship of Henry of Burgandy
by Alfonso VI of León and Castile in 1096, when Henry married Alfonso's illegitimate daughter Theresa
. Henry expanded the frontiers of the County, confronting the Moorish
forces, and upon his death (in 1112), Theresa, Countess of Portucale and Coimbra, unified her possessions. There son, Afonso Henriques, who would take-up residence in the ancient seat of the Christian County of Coimbra, sent expeditions to the south and west, consolidating a network of castles that included Leiria
, Soure, Rabaçal, Alvorge
and Ansião
.
During the 12th century, Afonso Henriques administered an area of fertile lands with river access and protected by a fortified city, whose population exceeded 6000 inhabitants, including magnate
s, knights and high clergy. The young Infante motivated the construction and reconstruction of his seat, funding the Monastery of Santa Cruz (founded in 1131 by Theotonius
), promoted the construction of the Sé Cathedral, reconstructed the original Roman bridge in 1132, recuperated fountains, kilns, roads and stone pavements, as well as renovating the walls of the old city. In order to confirm and reinforce the power of the concelho
(municipality
) he conceded a formal foral
(charter) in 1179.
By the end of the 13th century (or start of the 14th century), there was a distinct consolidation of the aristocratic, political and military city (concentrated in the Almedina) and the merchant, artesnal and labour centres in the Arrabalde, in addition to the old and new Jewish quarters. Meanwhile, on the periphery, the municipality began to grow in various agglomerations, notably around the monasteries and convents that developed in Celas, Santa Clara, Santo António dos Olivais
.
The Studium Generale
(precursor of the University of Coimbra) was established in Lisbon
in 1290, by King Dinis. The University
was relocated to Coimbra in 1308, but in 1338 the Afonso IV
made the University return to Lisbon. In 1537, the University was definitively installed in Coimbra by King John III
, and expanded by 1544 to occupy the Coimbra Royal Palace in the Almedina (in the Alta area of the city). It was eventually acquired by the University in 1597, when construction began to renovate the building to meet the school's requirements.
In the first half of the 19th century Coimbra was invaded by French troops under the command of Andoche Junot and André Masséna
during the Peninsular War
. A force of 4,000 Portuguese militia
led by Nicholas Trant
defeated Masséna, recapturing the city on 6 October 1810, while the remaining villages and parishes were decimated. When French forces finally began their retreat, although the city of Coimbra was defended successfully, the parishes in line of the regiments were pillaged, robbed or destroyed. The city recovered in the second half of the century with infrastructure improvements like the construction of the Conchada cemetery, establishment of a telegraph network, providing gas light illumination, the construction of a new prison, a civic railway system, that included a metal railway bridge over the Mondego river and the renovation of the Portela bridge, in addition to the broadening of roads and expansion of the city into the Quinta de Santa Cruz.
By 1854, with the expulsion of the religious orders and municipal reforms, the need to reorganize the municipality of Coimbra forced some changes in the existing structure of the administrative divisions. Consequently, documents were sent (on 20 January 1854) to the Ministries of Ecclesiastical Affairs and Justice urging the identification by the Civil Governor and Archbishop of Coimbra (Manuel Bento Rodrigues) the number of civil parishes to preserve during the municipal reforms, their limits, the political organs to be retained, a local census and other statistics to justify the demarcation of the territory. A commission of five members, that included João Maria Baptista Callixto, António dos Santos Pereira Jardim, Roque Joaquim Fernandes Thomás, João Correia Ayres de Campos and António Egypcio Quaresma Lopes de Carvalho e Vasconcelos, were appointed to produce a plan to reduce, suppress, demarcate and establishment of parishes in the city of Coimbra and its suburbs.
At the time of this commission, the municipality of Coimbra included nine parishes: Nossa Senhora da Assunção, Salvador, São Pedro, São Cristóvão, São João de Almedina, São Bartolomeu, São Tiago, São João de Santa Cruz and Santa Justa. By decree, dated 25 November 1854, the nine parishes were reduced to four then delimited through the deannexation of two new parishes to form: Sé Catedral (402 inhabitants), Sé Velha (452 inhabitants), São Bartolomeu (541 inhabitants), Santa Cruz (729 inhabitants), Santo António dos Olivais (749 inhabitants) and Santa Clara (289 inhabitants).
. This was only the initiation of the municipality growth. Civil construction projects throughout the region marked the economic activity of the territory, with new areas such as Montes Claros, Arregaça, Cumeada and Calhabé growing in the shadow of the city. Even projects that had been planned at the end of the 19th century gained new initiative, including the expansion of the Santa Cruz neighbourhood (bairro), the demolition of the residencial area of the Alta de Coimbra (1940-50) to expand the University, and construction or expansion of the bairros of Celas, Sete Fontes and Marechal Carmona (now the bairro of Norton de Matos).
During the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s the construction of new roadways permitted connections to the "suburbs" in the civil parishes surrounding the main centre.
, 40 km east of Coimbra). The historic city of Coimbra
is located in centrally within the municipality, connected to Lisbon (197 kilometres) and Porto (116 kilometres) by the IC2, IP3 and A1 motorways.
The municipality is circled by several of its neighbouring municipalities in the Baixo Mondego
region, which include Penacova (in the northeast), Vila Nova de Poiares
(to the east), Miranda do Corvo
(to the southeast), Condeixa-a-Nova (to the south and southwest), Montemor-o-Velho (to the west), Cantanhede (to the northwest) and Mealhada (in the north and northeast). Just outside the municipality, there are also several picturesque mountain towns such as Lousã and Penacova
, while spa towns and villages, such as Luso
, Buçaco and Curia
are commonplace.
Having ceased to serve as the capital of Portugal
since the 13th century, Coimbra has, nevertheless, retained a considerable importance as the centre of the former Beira
province, now designated the Centro region. It is considered alongside Braga
the most important regional centre in Portugal, outside the Lisbon
and Porto Metropolitan Areas metropole
s, playing a role as the central place in the whole central region of the country. With a dense urban grid, the municipality is known primarily for the city of Coimbra, itself famous for its monuments, churches, libraries, museums, parks, nightlife, healthcare and shopping facilities. Above all, its cultural life, oriented around the University of Coimbra, has historically attracted the nation's notable writers, artists, academics and aristocracy
, securing its reputation as the Lusa-Atenas (Lusitanian Athens
).
(Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), Melodious Warbler
(Hippolais polyglotta), Willow Warbler
(Phylloscopus trochilus), Little Bittern
(Ixobrychus minutus), Great Reed Warbler
(Acrocephalus arundinaceus), and the Savi's Warbler
(Locustella luscinioides). The 482 hectare area, under threat from industrial, residential and agricultural pollution, expansion of aquatic plants and eutrophication
, has forced the governmental reorganization of landuse in order to promote models of sustainability, and rural use that does not have an impact on the migratory and aquatic bird populations.
The municipal government has also promoted the installation and maintenance of various parks, playgrounds, gardens and forest
s, including the development of the Botanical Garden of the University of Coimbra
(considered the fifth oldest in the world), the Mata Nacional do Choupal, the Mata Nacional de Vale de Canas, Jardim da Sereia (also known as Santa Cruz Garden), Penedo da Saudade
, Parque Manuel Braga, Parque Verde do Mondego, Choupalinho, and the 19th century Quinta das Lágrimas
estate and gardens.
Complimenting these natural spaces is the riverside parks and bathing areas that line the Mondego, including the river beachs of Palheiros do Zorro, in the parish of Torres do Mondego.
of Coimbra is divided into 31 civil parishes of which 24 are predominantly urban, five intermediary urban and two are rural constituencies:
As of 2001, the municipality of Coimbra had a population of 148,443 inhabitants (covering an area of 319.4 km²), reflecting a 6.8% increase relative to 1991 (139,052 residents), while the number of families increased 17.1% in the same period. This was mainly concentrated in the parish of Sé Nova, while the remaining administrative divisions accounted for a range of 78.54 to 5069.2 inhabitants per kilometre square. Seniors and youth (age 0 to 14 years) represent a minority of the population (16.5% and 31.1%); the 25 to 64 cohort accounts for 55% of the active population. While per 100 inhabitants, seniors actually comprise 21.6% of this population, the birth rate (9.3%) is superior the mortality rate in the communities of Coimbra, which is actually greater than other municipalities in the Baixo Mondego
subregion.
The municipality of Coimbra has a resident population of 157,510 inhabitants, and seasonal population of approximately 200,000 residents. Between 1864 and 2001, the municipal population tripled (following the trend in the rest of the country when the nation's population doubled), while between 1991 and 2001 its population increased 6.75% (Portugal's population increased 4.08% in the same period). On average, over 43,000 people flow to Coimbra every day to study and work. About 430,000 inhabitants live in its Greater Metropolitan Area , consisting of 16 municipalities comprising an territory of 3372 km².
Internally, the network and location of public service/sector institutions (such as police stations, fire stations, public finance and notary services) have been located within 5.2 to 6.6 kilometres of the resident population, while most tertiary shops and retail capture between 43.4% and 100% of the market. Mini-markets and corner shops cover 100% of the population; generally, the longest distance travelled between shops is 8.7 kilmetres (for pastry shops). Restaurants are usually within 74.2% of the population, and refreshment shops (such as bars and snack bars) routinely cover 100% of the market. Commerce and vestuary shops range from coverage of 43.4% (for glasses) to 91.4% (of clothing); the lasrgest distance that resident population requires to travel is 10.2 kilometres for electro-domestics and auto-mobile purchases. Repair services, which cover the largest part of the civil parishes, and specifically auto repair shops, cover 97.1% of the market. Public transport covers 90.3% of the parishes, with 93.5% of the population; 61.3% have taxi services (capturing 78.8% of the population); public buses serve 67.7% of the parishes (or 85% of the population); while rail services affect 35.5% of the parishes (serving 29.7% of the market); while unequipped parishes, on average, lie within 4.8 kilometres of such services. Postal services are provided in 15 parishes (48.4%), corresponding to 77.9% of the population, while 98.6% receive home distribution. Similarly, public telephones have a 94.6% coverage of the population.
with:
Aix-en-Provence
, France
(ratified in 1982/1985) Beira
, Sofala
, Mozambique
(ratified in 1997) Cambridge
, Massachusetts
, United States
(ratified in 1983-1984) Curitiba
, Paraná
, Brazil
(ratified in 1977/1995) Daman
, Daman and Diu, India
(ratified in 2003-2004) Dili
, Dili
, East Timor
(ratified in 2002) Esch-sur-Alzette
, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
(ratified in 2004-2005) Fes
, Fès-Boulemane
, Morocco
(ratified in 1988) Halle
, Saxony-Anhalt
, Germany
(ratified in 1975-1976) Island of Mozambique
, Nampula, Mozambique
(ratified 2003) Lund
, Skåne
, Sweden
(ratified in 2004) Mindelo
, São Vicente
, Cape Verde
(ratified in 1994-1995) Padua
, Veneto
Italy
(ratified in 1998/2000) Poitiers
, Vienne
, France
(ratified in 1979) Salamanca
, Castile and León
, Spain
(ratified in 1980-1981) Santa Clara
, California
, United States
(ratified in 1971-1972) Santiago de Compostela
, Galicia, Spain
(ratified in 1994) Santos
, São Paulo
, Brazil
(ratified in 1981) São Paulo
, São Paulo
, Brazil
(ratified in 1997) Taipa
, Macao
, China
(ratified in 1998) Yaroslavl
, Yaroslavl Oblast
, Russia
(ratified in 1984) Zaragoza
, Aragon
, Spain
(ratified in 2004-2005)
company Innovnano, a subsidary of Companhia União Fabril
).
In agriculture, the majority of these workers are self-employed and involved in the cultivation of cereals (grain), temporary pasture-lands, forage crops and vineyards, but also includes the cultivation of legumes, potato, flowers and ornamental plants, citrus plants, subtropical and fresh fruit, in addition to olives.
Ostensibly, visitors are attracted to municipality of Coimbra for its touristic landscape, including the popular and religious festivals; the landscapes; and the monuments, historical places and architecture of the region. Most travelers stay in Coimbra 1.5 days, usually staying at many of the hotels, residences or hospices (although capacity is between 41.8-47.4% in the parishes and from 79.8% in the city).
Although dominated by the A1
motorway (connecting Coimbra to Lisbon and Porto), the municipality is also connected by a series of roads and public services that unifies the regional communities. It is served by the SMTUC Serviços Municipalizados de Transportes Urbanos de Coimbra , which includes not only the Coimbra trolleybus system
and tram network that connect the old city, but also bus services into the municipality (it is a interregional bus service hub for Centro region).
Throughout Coimbra there are rail stations that connect the principal parishes of the municipality (Coimbra-B) with Porto and Lisbon, while a small spur links to the main station (Coimbra-A). A regional line (the Linha da Lousºa) also runs from Coimbra Park (at the south edge of the city centre) to Miranda do Corvo, Lousã, Serpins and others, including links to Figueira da Foz
(Ramal de Alfarelos), Guarda
and Vilar Formoso
(Linha da Beira Alta).
The banks of the Mondego River are linked by several bridges, including prominently the Ponte do Açude, the Ponte de Santa Clara (which is the oldest) and the Ponte Rainha Santa (also known as Ponte Europa), while the more recent Ponte Pedonal de Pedro e Inês is the modernist pedestrian bridge that connects both banks.
A regional airfield is located on a hilltop overlooking the parishs of Cernache and Antanhol, some 7.5 kilometres southwest of the city centre. The Aeródromo Municipal Bissaya Barreto (CBP) [PCO], has a 920 metre runway, with Flight Information Service
s until the sunset and facilities for private flights.
in Portugal, whose origins can be traced back to the 13th century). Similarly, it is the home to the oldest students' union
, theAssociação Académica de Coimbra
(Academic Association of Coimbra), established in 1887. Many of the students select Coimbra owing to the variety of degrees offered in different fields, the student-friendly environment of the municipality, and the prestige associated with Coimbra's ancient academic history.
Other prominent public-sector institutions include the Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra (a polytechnic
institute) and the Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Coimbra
(a nursing school
), while several private institutions, such as the Instituto Superior Miguel Torga, the Instituto Superior Bissaya Barreto, the Escola Universitária Vasco da Gama and the Escola Universitária das Artes de Coimbra, provide complimentary services, in addition to the Escola de Hotelaria e Turismo de Coimbra (Coimbra Hotel and Tourism School). The city has also a large number of public and private basic and secondary schools, among these some of the best-ranked in the country, like Escola Secundária Infanta D. Maria (public), Escola Secundária José Falcão (public), "Escola EB2/3 Martim de Freitas" (public) and Colégio Rainha Santa Isabel (private), as well as several kindergartens and nurseries.
(spouse of the King Denis
); a quasi-religious/civic celebration that celebrated the life of the former Queen, that includes a fireworks display following the night-time march of the penitents.
The Fado de Coimbra is a highly stylized genre of fado
music originated in Coimbra. Among its most notable and historical adherents are guitarist Carlos Paredes
and singer Zeca Afonso
, while the Orfeon Académico de Coimbra
(the oldest and most famous academic choir
in Portugal) and the Associação Académica de Coimbra
are important organizations that promote the culture and stylings of this sub-genra of music. In addition, Coimbra has a contemporary music, boasting several live music venues, and some of the most popular clubs and music festivals in Portugal. Moreover, theConservatório de Música de Coimbra, musical departments of the Associação Académica de Coimbra
and the music programmes of the Faculty of Letters are noted by many of top music schools in the country.
Coimbra is also known for its university students' festivals, that include the Festa das Latas ("Festival of the Tin Cans"), a homecoming
parade at the beginning of the academic year, and the traditional second-semester eight-day-long Queima das Fitas
("The Burning of the Ribbons"), which are open to the entire community and attract national and international tourists.
As the third-largest regional media market in Portugal, the Portuguese public radio and television broadcaster RTP
has regional offices and studios in Coimbra, while theDiário de Coimbra
and the Diário As Beiras are the two major newspapers based in Coimbra.
team of the University of Coimbra students' union, founded in 1872. Obtaining its autonomy in the 1980s, Académica plays in the Portuguese Liga
from the local Estádio Cidade de Coimbra
stadium, while the multisports clubs of Coimbra's students' union Associação Académica de Coimbra
, provides training and competition in an wide array of sports such as rugby, volleyball, handball, rink hockey, basketball, baseball, tennis, swimming and rowing, among many others.
In addition to the 30,000-seat Estádio Cidade de Coimbra
(which was a site of 2004 European Football Championship), the municipality of Coimbra boasts several sports venues, including the municipal olympic-size swimming pool complex, the multiuse sports complex , the Estádio Municipal Sérgio Conceição
and the Estádio Universitário de Coimbra(the University's extensive sports complex located on Mondego's left bank). In addition, the Pavilhão Jorge Anjinho sports arena (home of Académica), Pavilhão dos Olivais, and Pavilhão do C.F. União de Coimbra, are other places where some of the most important indoor sports clashes involving teams of Coimbra are played. This includes the Clube de Futebol União de Coimbra
(simply União Coimbra), another sports with a long history of playing football in the region, today in the Portuguese Second Division
.
The following people were born or died within the municipality of Coimbra:
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, whose core is the city of Coimbra
Coimbra
Coimbra is a city in the municipality of Coimbra in Portugal. Although it served as the nation's capital during the High Middle Ages, it is better-known for its university, the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the...
. It is in the district of Coimbra
Coimbra (district)
Coimbra District is located in the Centro Region, the district capital is the city of Coimbra.-Municipalities:The district is composed by 17 municipalities:* Arganil* Cantanhede* Coimbra* Condeixa-a-Nova* Figueira da Foz* Góis* Lousã* Mira...
, being the principal centre in the Centro region, the seat of the Baixo Mondego
Baixo Mondego
Baixo Mondego is a Portuguese NUTS3 subregion that comprises the lower part of the Mondego River. It is a subregion of the Centro Region and is centered on the historical city of Coimbra...
subregion and former capital of Portugal during the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. According to the 2011 Census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
the municipality had a population of 143,052 inhabitants (from which about 100,000 in the city proper), covering an area of 319.4 km², while over 430,000 people live in the Greater Metropolitan Area of Coimbra
Greater Metropolitan Area of Coimbra
The Greater Metropolitan Area of Coimbra is an administrative division in Portugal. It has 16 municipalities : Coimbra, Figueira da Foz, Cantanhede, Montemor-o-Velho, Soure, Mealhada, Penacova, Lousã, Condeixa-a-Nova, Miranda do Corvo, Mira, Tábua, Mortágua, Vila Nova de Poiares, Penela and...
, comprising 16 municipalities and extending into an area 3,372 km². Apart from Lisbon and Porto, Coimbra is one of the most important urban centres in Portugal playing a central role in the development of the northern-central littoral and interior.
Its history and role is based on its earliest settlement, dating back to the Roman era
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
centre of Aeminium
Aeminium
Aeminium was the ancient name of the city of Coimbra, in Portugal.The Romans founded the civitas of Aeminium in this place at the time of Augustus, which came under the protection of nearby Conimbriga situated some 15 km away to the south....
and developing from its role as cultural, educational, religious and administrative centre during the Middle-Ages. From its early settlement on the hilltop overlooking the Mondego River, Coimbra began to evolve its influence and control occupying a central place in the interior of Portugal.
History
Coimbra's toponymyToponymy
Toponymy is the scientific study of place names , their origins, meanings, use and typology. The word "toponymy" is derived from the Greek words tópos and ónoma . Toponymy is itself a branch of onomastics, the study of names of all kinds...
came from its earliest settlement as the civitas
Civitas
In the history of Rome, the Latin term civitas , according to Cicero in the time of the late Roman Republic, was the social body of the cives, or citizens, united by law . It is the law that binds them together, giving them responsibilities on the one hand and rights of citizenship on the other...
Aeminium
Aeminium
Aeminium was the ancient name of the city of Coimbra, in Portugal.The Romans founded the civitas of Aeminium in this place at the time of Augustus, which came under the protection of nearby Conimbriga situated some 15 km away to the south....
, a name derived from the early settlement's topography: o meneiu means top of hill in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
. It fell under the influence, administratively, of the larger Roman villa of Conimbriga
Conímbriga
Conímbriga is one of the largest Roman settlements in Portugal, and is classified as a National Monument. Conímbriga lies 16 km from Coimbra and less than 2 km from Condeixa-a-Nova. The site also has a museum that displays objects found by archaeologists during their excavations,...
(in Condeixa-a-Nova), until the latter was sacked by the Sueves and Visigoths between 569-589 and abandoned. Although Conimbriga had been administratively important, Aeminium affirmed its position by being situated at the confluence of the north-south traffic that connected the Roman Bracara Augusta (later Braga
Braga
Braga , a city in the Braga Municipality in northwestern Portugal, is the capital of the Braga District, the oldest archdiocese and the third major city of the country. Braga is the oldest Portuguese city and one of the oldest Christian cities in the World...
) and Olisipo (later Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
), while its waterway allowed connectivity into the interior and coast. The limestone table on which the settlement grew has a dominant position overlooking the Mondego, circled by fertile lands irrigated by its waters. Vestiges of this early history include the cryptoporticus
Cryptoporticus
In Ancient Roman architecture a cryptoporticus is a covered corridor or passageway. The usual English is "cryptoportico". The cryptoportico is a semi-subterranean gallery whose vaulting supports portico structures aboveground and which is lit from openings at the tops of its arches...
of the former Roman forum (now part of the Museu Nacional de Machado de Castro).
The move and settlement of the first Christian Bishops of Conimbriga to Aeminium resulted in the name change to Conimbriga, evolving later to Colimbria. During the Visigothic era (around the 8th century), the County of Coimbra
County of Coimbra
The County of Coimbra was a political entity instituted as a subsidiary county for the prince Ardavast or Sisebuto son of King Wittiza until the fall of Visigothic Hispania by Abderraman III ruler of Al-Andalus. The first counts established a long and great dynasty which were several families and...
was instituted by King Wittiza
Wittiza
Wittiza was the Visigothic King of Hispania from 694 until his death, co-ruling with his father, Ergica, until 702 or 703.-Joint rule:...
; a sub-county of his dominion, it was established as a fief for his son Prince Ardabast (or Sisebuto), with its seat in Emínio(the Visigothic name for Coimbra), which persisted until the Muslim invasion from the south.
The first Muslim campaigns that occupied the Iberian peninsula occurred between 711 and 715, with Coimbra capitulating to Musa bin Nusair
Musa bin Nusair
Musa bin Nusayr al-Balawi was a balawi who served as a governor and general under the Umayad caliph Al-Walid I. He had ruled over the Muslim provinces of North Africa , and directed the islamic opening of the Visigothic kingdom in Hispania....
in 714. Although it was not a large settlement, Qulumriyah, in the context of Al-Andalus
Al-Andalus
Al-Andalus was the Arabic name given to a nation and territorial region also commonly referred to as Moorish Iberia. The name describes parts of the Iberian Peninsula and Septimania governed by Muslims , at various times in the period between 711 and 1492, although the territorial boundaries...
, was the largest agglomerated centre along the northern Tagus valley, and its principal city boasted a walled enclosure of 10 hectares, supporting between 3000 and 5000 inhabitants. Remnants of this period include the beginnings of the Almedina
Almedina
Almedina is a municipality in Ciudad Real, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. It has a population of 742....
, Arrabalde
Arrabalde
Arrabalde is a municipality located in the province of Zamora, Castile and León, Spain. , the municipality has a population of 294 inhabitants....
and the fortified palace used by the city's governor (which was later converted into the Royal Palace by the early Portuguese monarchs). The Christian Reconquista
Reconquista
The Reconquista was a period of almost 800 years in the Middle Ages during which several Christian kingdoms succeeded in retaking the Muslim-controlled areas of the Iberian Peninsula broadly known as Al-Andalus...
forced Muslim forces to abandon the region temporarily. Successively the Moors retook the castle in 987-1064 and again in 1116, capturing two castles constructed to protect the territory: in Miranda da Beira (where the garrison was slaughtered) and in Santa Eulália (where the governor rendered his forces rather than facing a similar massacre).
Kingdom
The reconquest of the territory was attained in 1064 by King Ferdinand I of León and Castile, who appointed DomDom
- People :* Dom people, an ethnic group in the Middle East* Doms, people of indigenous origin found in the Indian state of West Bengal* Domba or Dom, an ethnic group of India...
Sisnando Davides
Sisnando Davides
Sisnando Davides was a Mozarab nobleman and military leader of the Reconquista, born in Tentúgal, near Coimbra...
to reorganize the economy and administer the lands encircling the city. The County of Portucale and the County of Coimbra
County of Coimbra
The County of Coimbra was a political entity instituted as a subsidiary county for the prince Ardavast or Sisebuto son of King Wittiza until the fall of Visigothic Hispania by Abderraman III ruler of Al-Andalus. The first counts established a long and great dynasty which were several families and...
were later integrated into one dominion under the stewardship of Henry of Burgandy
Henry, Count of Portugal
Henry of Burgundy, Count of Portugal was Count of Portugal from 1093 to his death. He was brother of Hugh I, Duke of Burgundy, and Odo I, Duke of Burgundy, all sons of Henry, the heir of Robert I, Duke of Burgundy. His name is Henri in modern French, Henricus in Latin, Enrique in modern Spanish...
by Alfonso VI of León and Castile in 1096, when Henry married Alfonso's illegitimate daughter Theresa
Theresa, Countess of Portugal
Theresa of Portugal was the first ruler of independent Portugal...
. Henry expanded the frontiers of the County, confronting the Moorish
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
forces, and upon his death (in 1112), Theresa, Countess of Portucale and Coimbra, unified her possessions. There son, Afonso Henriques, who would take-up residence in the ancient seat of the Christian County of Coimbra, sent expeditions to the south and west, consolidating a network of castles that included Leiria
Leiria
Leiria is a city in Leiria Municipality in the Centro Region, Portugal. It is the capital of Leiria District. The city proper has 50,200 inhabitants and the entire municipality has nearly 120,000...
, Soure, Rabaçal, Alvorge
Alvorge
- External links :* Portuguese Wikipedia article on Alvorge...
and Ansião
Ansião
Ansião , is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 176.2 km² and a total population of 13,673 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of 8 parishes, and is located in Leiria District....
.
During the 12th century, Afonso Henriques administered an area of fertile lands with river access and protected by a fortified city, whose population exceeded 6000 inhabitants, including magnate
Magnate
Magnate, from the Late Latin magnas, a great man, itself from Latin magnus 'great', designates a noble or other man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or other qualities...
s, knights and high clergy. The young Infante motivated the construction and reconstruction of his seat, funding the Monastery of Santa Cruz (founded in 1131 by Theotonius
Theotonius
Theotonius was an Augustinian canon and royal advisor. He is noted and famed in Portugal, for being the first Prior of the Monastery of the Holy Cross in Coimbra, Portugal...
), promoted the construction of the Sé Cathedral, reconstructed the original Roman bridge in 1132, recuperated fountains, kilns, roads and stone pavements, as well as renovating the walls of the old city. In order to confirm and reinforce the power of the concelho
Concelho
Concelho , in the Portuguese language, is the word municipality, when referring to the territory. The word município is used when municipality means the organ of State...
(municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
) he conceded a formal foral
Foral
thumb|left|200px|Foral of Castro Verde - PortugalThe word foral derives from the Portuguese word foro, ultimately from Latin forum, equivalent to Spanish fuero, Galician foro, Catalan furs and Basque foru ....
(charter) in 1179.
By the end of the 13th century (or start of the 14th century), there was a distinct consolidation of the aristocratic, political and military city (concentrated in the Almedina) and the merchant, artesnal and labour centres in the Arrabalde, in addition to the old and new Jewish quarters. Meanwhile, on the periphery, the municipality began to grow in various agglomerations, notably around the monasteries and convents that developed in Celas, Santa Clara, Santo António dos Olivais
Santo António dos Olivais
Santo António dos Olivais, commonly shortened to Olivais, is a urban civil parish in the municipality of Coimbra, making-up the historic city of Coimbra. In 2001, its population was over 39,516 inhabitants, in an area east of University Hill in Coimbra, covering 19.13 km²...
.
The Studium Generale
Studium Generale
Studium generale is the old customary name for a Medieval university.- Definition :There is no clear official definition of what constituted a Studium generale...
(precursor of the University of Coimbra) was established in Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
in 1290, by King Dinis. The University
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
was relocated to Coimbra in 1308, but in 1338 the Afonso IV
Afonso IV of Portugal
Afonso IV , called the Brave , was the seventh king of Portugal and the Algarve from 1325 until his death. He was the only legitimate son of King Denis of Portugal by his wife Elizabeth of Aragon.-Biography:...
made the University return to Lisbon. In 1537, the University was definitively installed in Coimbra by King John III
John III of Portugal
John III , nicknamed o Piedoso , was the fifteenth King of Portugal and the Algarves. He was the son of King Manuel I and Maria of Aragon, the third daughter of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile...
, and expanded by 1544 to occupy the Coimbra Royal Palace in the Almedina (in the Alta area of the city). It was eventually acquired by the University in 1597, when construction began to renovate the building to meet the school's requirements.
In the first half of the 19th century Coimbra was invaded by French troops under the command of Andoche Junot and André Masséna
André Masséna
André Masséna 1st Duc de Rivoli, 1st Prince d'Essling was a French military commander during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars....
during the Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
. A force of 4,000 Portuguese militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
led by Nicholas Trant
Nicholas Trant
Nicholas Trant , a British officer, led Portuguese irregular troops in several actions during the Peninsular War. His most famous exploits were the recapture of Coimbra from the French in October 1810 and the successful defense of the line of the Mondego River in March 1811.-Peninsular War:While a...
defeated Masséna, recapturing the city on 6 October 1810, while the remaining villages and parishes were decimated. When French forces finally began their retreat, although the city of Coimbra was defended successfully, the parishes in line of the regiments were pillaged, robbed or destroyed. The city recovered in the second half of the century with infrastructure improvements like the construction of the Conchada cemetery, establishment of a telegraph network, providing gas light illumination, the construction of a new prison, a civic railway system, that included a metal railway bridge over the Mondego river and the renovation of the Portela bridge, in addition to the broadening of roads and expansion of the city into the Quinta de Santa Cruz.
By 1854, with the expulsion of the religious orders and municipal reforms, the need to reorganize the municipality of Coimbra forced some changes in the existing structure of the administrative divisions. Consequently, documents were sent (on 20 January 1854) to the Ministries of Ecclesiastical Affairs and Justice urging the identification by the Civil Governor and Archbishop of Coimbra (Manuel Bento Rodrigues) the number of civil parishes to preserve during the municipal reforms, their limits, the political organs to be retained, a local census and other statistics to justify the demarcation of the territory. A commission of five members, that included João Maria Baptista Callixto, António dos Santos Pereira Jardim, Roque Joaquim Fernandes Thomás, João Correia Ayres de Campos and António Egypcio Quaresma Lopes de Carvalho e Vasconcelos, were appointed to produce a plan to reduce, suppress, demarcate and establishment of parishes in the city of Coimbra and its suburbs.
At the time of this commission, the municipality of Coimbra included nine parishes: Nossa Senhora da Assunção, Salvador, São Pedro, São Cristóvão, São João de Almedina, São Bartolomeu, São Tiago, São João de Santa Cruz and Santa Justa. By decree, dated 25 November 1854, the nine parishes were reduced to four then delimited through the deannexation of two new parishes to form: Sé Catedral (402 inhabitants), Sé Velha (452 inhabitants), São Bartolomeu (541 inhabitants), Santa Cruz (729 inhabitants), Santo António dos Olivais (749 inhabitants) and Santa Clara (289 inhabitants).
Republic
In the 20th century, specifically on 1 January 1911, electrical cars were inaugurated to connect the old quarter with its expanding periphery, that included the residential areas of Celas, Olivais, Penedo da Saudade and Calhabé, all of these located in the civil parish of Santo António dos OlivaisSanto António dos Olivais
Santo António dos Olivais, commonly shortened to Olivais, is a urban civil parish in the municipality of Coimbra, making-up the historic city of Coimbra. In 2001, its population was over 39,516 inhabitants, in an area east of University Hill in Coimbra, covering 19.13 km²...
. This was only the initiation of the municipality growth. Civil construction projects throughout the region marked the economic activity of the territory, with new areas such as Montes Claros, Arregaça, Cumeada and Calhabé growing in the shadow of the city. Even projects that had been planned at the end of the 19th century gained new initiative, including the expansion of the Santa Cruz neighbourhood (bairro), the demolition of the residencial area of the Alta de Coimbra (1940-50) to expand the University, and construction or expansion of the bairros of Celas, Sete Fontes and Marechal Carmona (now the bairro of Norton de Matos).
During the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s the construction of new roadways permitted connections to the "suburbs" in the civil parishes surrounding the main centre.
Geography
One of the nation's important crossroads, Coimbra was historically at a junction between the Braga and Lisbon, and its river access (the Mondego flows through the municipality) provided a route between the interior communities and the coastal towns (including the seaside city of Figueira da FozFigueira da Foz
Figueira da Foz , also known as Figueira for short, is a municipality in the Coimbra District, in Portugal. It is located at the mouth of the Mondego River, 40 km west of Coimbra, and sheltered by hills ....
, 40 km east of Coimbra). The historic city of Coimbra
Coimbra
Coimbra is a city in the municipality of Coimbra in Portugal. Although it served as the nation's capital during the High Middle Ages, it is better-known for its university, the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the...
is located in centrally within the municipality, connected to Lisbon (197 kilometres) and Porto (116 kilometres) by the IC2, IP3 and A1 motorways.
The municipality is circled by several of its neighbouring municipalities in the Baixo Mondego
Baixo Mondego
Baixo Mondego is a Portuguese NUTS3 subregion that comprises the lower part of the Mondego River. It is a subregion of the Centro Region and is centered on the historical city of Coimbra...
region, which include Penacova (in the northeast), Vila Nova de Poiares
Vila Nova de Poiares Municipality
Vila Nova de Poiares Municipality is located in Coimbra District in Portugal. It contains the town of Vila Nova de Poiares.-Parishes:* Arrifana* Lavegadas* Santo André de Poiares* São Miguel de Poiares...
(to the east), Miranda do Corvo
Miranda do Corvo
Miranda do Corvo is a Portuguese town and municipality in the Coimbra district of Portugal.Miranda do Corvo literally means "View over the Corvo River." The town has a beautiful church situated on a hill overlooking the area. A large "Rio de Janeiro"-type statue of Jesus also looks out over the...
(to the southeast), Condeixa-a-Nova (to the south and southwest), Montemor-o-Velho (to the west), Cantanhede (to the northwest) and Mealhada (in the north and northeast). Just outside the municipality, there are also several picturesque mountain towns such as Lousã and Penacova
Penacova
Penacova Municipality is a municipality in the Coimbra District, in Portugal. It has a population of 16,725 and an area of 220 km2. The seat is the town of Penacova.-Parishes:* Carvalho* Figueira de Lorvão* Friúmes* Lorvão* Oliveira do Mondego* Paradela...
, while spa towns and villages, such as Luso
Luso, Portugal
Luso is a Portuguese town of the municipality of Mealhada, Aveiro district, renowned by its mineral waters. Águas do Luso, one of the largest Portuguese companies providing mineral water is based there.-Notes and references:...
, Buçaco and Curia
Curia
A curia in early Roman times was a subdivision of the people, i.e. more or less a tribe, and with a metonymy it came to mean also the meeting place where the tribe discussed its affairs...
are commonplace.
Having ceased to serve as the capital of Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
since the 13th century, Coimbra has, nevertheless, retained a considerable importance as the centre of the former Beira
Beira, Portugal
Beira was one of the six traditional provinces or "comarcas" of Portugal.-Administrative history:The medieval province of Beira was divided in 1832 into* Beira Alta Province* Beira Baixa ProvinceBeira Litoral...
province, now designated the Centro region. It is considered alongside Braga
Braga
Braga , a city in the Braga Municipality in northwestern Portugal, is the capital of the Braga District, the oldest archdiocese and the third major city of the country. Braga is the oldest Portuguese city and one of the oldest Christian cities in the World...
the most important regional centre in Portugal, outside the Lisbon
Lisbon Metropolitan Area
Lisbon Metropolitan Area is a territorial zone that includes 18 municipalities in Portugal. The smaller Grande Lisboa area is a subregion of the NUTS II Lisbon Region by its own right....
and Porto Metropolitan Areas metropole
Metropole
The metropole, from the Greek Metropolis 'mother city' was the name given to the British metropolitan centre of the British Empire, i.e. the United Kingdom itself...
s, playing a role as the central place in the whole central region of the country. With a dense urban grid, the municipality is known primarily for the city of Coimbra, itself famous for its monuments, churches, libraries, museums, parks, nightlife, healthcare and shopping facilities. Above all, its cultural life, oriented around the University of Coimbra, has historically attracted the nation's notable writers, artists, academics and aristocracy
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
, securing its reputation as the Lusa-Atenas (Lusitanian Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
).
Ecoregions/Protected areas
The western edge of Coimbra is covered by the Reserva Natural do Paúl de Arzila (Arzila Bog Natural Reserve), which is designated both as a Special Protection Zone and Special Conservation Zone , coincident with the civil parish of Arzila (sometimes referred to as the Paúl de Arzila or marsh of Arzila). It is a humid zone that has sheltered migratory birds, and supports other animal and plant species; this has included predominantly avian species, such as the: Eurasian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus), Sedge WarblerSedge Warbler
The Sedge Warbler is an Old World warbler in the genus Acrocephalus. It is a medium-sized warbler with a brown, streaked back and wings and a distinct pale supercilium. Sedge Warblers are migratory, crossing the Sahara to get from their European and Asian breeding grounds to spend winter in Africa...
(Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), Melodious Warbler
Melodious Warbler
The Melodious Warbler is an Old World warbler in the tree warbler genus Hippolais. It breeds in southwest Europe and northwest Africa. It is migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa....
(Hippolais polyglotta), Willow Warbler
Willow Warbler
The Willow Warbler is a very common and widespread leaf warbler which breeds throughout northern and temperate Europe and Asia, from Ireland east to the Anadyr River basin in eastern Siberia...
(Phylloscopus trochilus), Little Bittern
Little Bittern
The Little Bittern is a wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, native to the Old World, breeding in Africa, central and southern Europe, western and southern Asia, and Madagascar. Birds from temperate regions in Europe and western Asia are migratory, wintering in Africa and further south in...
(Ixobrychus minutus), Great Reed Warbler
Great Reed Warbler
The Great Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus arundinaceus, is an Eurasiaan songbird in the genus Acrocephalus. It used to be placed in the "Old World warbler" assemblage, but nowadays is recognized to be part of the marsh- and tree-warbler family .-Description:This is a large thrush-sized warbler,...
(Acrocephalus arundinaceus), and the Savi's Warbler
Savi's Warbler
The Savi's Warbler, Locustella luscinioides, is an Old World warbler in the grass warbler genus Locustella. It breeds in southern Europe into temperate western Asia. It is migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa....
(Locustella luscinioides). The 482 hectare area, under threat from industrial, residential and agricultural pollution, expansion of aquatic plants and eutrophication
Eutrophication
Eutrophication or more precisely hypertrophication, is the movement of a body of water′s trophic status in the direction of increasing plant biomass, by the addition of artificial or natural substances, such as nitrates and phosphates, through fertilizers or sewage, to an aquatic system...
, has forced the governmental reorganization of landuse in order to promote models of sustainability, and rural use that does not have an impact on the migratory and aquatic bird populations.
The municipal government has also promoted the installation and maintenance of various parks, playgrounds, gardens and forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s, including the development of the Botanical Garden of the University of Coimbra
Botanical Garden of the University of Coimbra
The Botanical Garden of the University of Coimbra is a botanical garden in Coimbra, Portugal. It was founded in 1772-1774 and it was integrated in the Natural History Museum established by the Marquis of Pombal...
(considered the fifth oldest in the world), the Mata Nacional do Choupal, the Mata Nacional de Vale de Canas, Jardim da Sereia (also known as Santa Cruz Garden), Penedo da Saudade
Penedo da Saudade
Penedo da Saudade is the name of an historical public garden in Coimbra, Portugal. The garden have partial views of Coimbra skyline and the Coimbra City Stadium. According to the legend, nothing remained the same after the death of Inês de Castro. It used to be a relaxing and isolated place, where...
, Parque Manuel Braga, Parque Verde do Mondego, Choupalinho, and the 19th century Quinta das Lágrimas
Quinta das Lágrimas
Quinta das Lágrimas is an estate in Coimbra, Portugal. It was classified in 1977 as an "Imóvel de Interesse Publico" by the IPPAR. It includes 12 ha of gardens and a palace that has been converted into a luxury hotel.-History:The origin of the estate is uncertain...
estate and gardens.
Complimenting these natural spaces is the riverside parks and bathing areas that line the Mondego, including the river beachs of Palheiros do Zorro, in the parish of Torres do Mondego.
Human geography
The municipalityConcelho
Concelho , in the Portuguese language, is the word municipality, when referring to the territory. The word município is used when municipality means the organ of State...
of Coimbra is divided into 31 civil parishes of which 24 are predominantly urban, five intermediary urban and two are rural constituencies:
- Almalaguês
- Almedina (Coimbra)
- Ameal
- Antanhol
- Antuzede
- Arzila
- AssafargeAssafargeAssafarge is a Portuguese civil parish in the southern portion of the municipality of Coimbra, Centro Region, with a population of 2268 inhabitants and occupying an area of 9.72 km².-History:...
- Botão
- Brasfemes
- Castelo Viegas
- Ceira
- Cernache
- Eiras
- Lamarosa
- Ribeira de Frades
- São Bartolomeu (Coimbra)
- São João do Campo
- São Martinho da Árvore
- São Martinho do Bispo
- São Paulo de Frades
- São Silvestre
- Sé NovaSé NovaSé Nova is a Portuguese parish, located in the municipality of Coimbra ,in the city of Coimbra. It has a population of 8,295 inhabitants and a total area of 1.43 km².-Monuments worthy:*Colégio de São Jerónimo...
(Coimbra) - Souselas
- Santa ClaraSanta Clara, CoimbraSanta Clara is a Portuguese parish in the municipality of Coimbra. It has a population of 9637 and an area of 9.77 km². It is an urban parish, in the city Coimbra, and on the south of the Mondego river....
(Coimbra) - Santa CruzSanta Cruz (Coimbra)Santa Cruz is an urban-rural Portuguese civil parish in the municipality of Coimbra. In 2001, its population was 6866 inhabitants, in an area of 5.56 km² that parallels the north margin of the Mondego River, extending to the village of Adémia in Trouxemil .-History:After the Christian conquest...
- Santo António dos OlivaisSanto António dos OlivaisSanto António dos Olivais, commonly shortened to Olivais, is a urban civil parish in the municipality of Coimbra, making-up the historic city of Coimbra. In 2001, its population was over 39,516 inhabitants, in an area east of University Hill in Coimbra, covering 19.13 km²...
(Coimbra) - Taveiro
- Torre de Vilela
- Torres do Mondego
- Trouxemil
- Vil de Matos
Baixo Mondego
Baixo Mondego is a Portuguese NUTS3 subregion that comprises the lower part of the Mondego River. It is a subregion of the Centro Region and is centered on the historical city of Coimbra...
subregion.
The municipality of Coimbra has a resident population of 157,510 inhabitants, and seasonal population of approximately 200,000 residents. Between 1864 and 2001, the municipal population tripled (following the trend in the rest of the country when the nation's population doubled), while between 1991 and 2001 its population increased 6.75% (Portugal's population increased 4.08% in the same period). On average, over 43,000 people flow to Coimbra every day to study and work. About 430,000 inhabitants live in its Greater Metropolitan Area , consisting of 16 municipalities comprising an territory of 3372 km².
Internally, the network and location of public service/sector institutions (such as police stations, fire stations, public finance and notary services) have been located within 5.2 to 6.6 kilometres of the resident population, while most tertiary shops and retail capture between 43.4% and 100% of the market. Mini-markets and corner shops cover 100% of the population; generally, the longest distance travelled between shops is 8.7 kilmetres (for pastry shops). Restaurants are usually within 74.2% of the population, and refreshment shops (such as bars and snack bars) routinely cover 100% of the market. Commerce and vestuary shops range from coverage of 43.4% (for glasses) to 91.4% (of clothing); the lasrgest distance that resident population requires to travel is 10.2 kilometres for electro-domestics and auto-mobile purchases. Repair services, which cover the largest part of the civil parishes, and specifically auto repair shops, cover 97.1% of the market. Public transport covers 90.3% of the parishes, with 93.5% of the population; 61.3% have taxi services (capturing 78.8% of the population); public buses serve 67.7% of the parishes (or 85% of the population); while rail services affect 35.5% of the parishes (serving 29.7% of the market); while unequipped parishes, on average, lie within 4.8 kilometres of such services. Postal services are provided in 15 parishes (48.4%), corresponding to 77.9% of the population, while 98.6% receive home distribution. Similarly, public telephones have a 94.6% coverage of the population.
Twin towns — Sister cities
Coimbra is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with:
Aix-en-Provence
Aix-en-Provence
Aix , or Aix-en-Provence to distinguish it from other cities built over hot springs, is a city-commune in southern France, some north of Marseille. It is in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, in the département of Bouches-du-Rhône, of which it is a subprefecture. The population of Aix is...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
(ratified in 1982/1985) Beira
Beira, Mozambique
Beira is the second largest city in Mozambique. It lies in the central region of the country in Sofala Province, where the Pungue River meets the Indian Ocean. Beira had a population of 412,588 in 1997, which grew to an estimated 546,000 in 2006...
, Sofala
Sofala Province
Sofala is a province of Mozambique. It has an area of 68,018 km² and a population of 1.676.131 . Beira is the capital of the province. The province is named for the ruined port of Sofala.- Districts :Districts of Sofala Province include:...
, Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
(ratified in 1997) Cambridge
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(ratified in 1983-1984) Curitiba
Curitiba
Curitiba is the capital of the Brazilian state of Paraná. It is the largest city with the biggest economy of both Paraná and southern Brazil. The population of Curitiba numbers approximately 1.75 million people and the latest GDP figures for the city surpass US$61 billion according to...
, Paraná
Paraná (state)
Paraná is one of the states of Brazil, located in the South of the country, bordered on the north by São Paulo state, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by Santa Catarina state and the Misiones Province of Argentina, and on the west by Mato Grosso do Sul and the republic of Paraguay,...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
(ratified in 1977/1995) Daman
Daman District, India
Daman district is one of the two districts of the union territory of Daman and Diu on the western coast of India, surrounded by Valsad District of Gujarat state on the north, east and south and the Arabian Sea to the west. The district has an area of , and a population of 113,949 , which increased...
, Daman and Diu, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
(ratified in 2003-2004) Dili
Dili
Dili, spelled Díli in Portuguese, is the capital, largest city, chief port and commercial centre of East Timor.-Geography and Administration:Dili lies on the northern coast of Timor island, the easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands....
, Dili
Dili (district)
Dili is the name of one of the 13 districts of East Timor, which includes the national capital Dili. It has a population of 167,777 , most of whom live in the capital city. The district has an area of 372 km2. The district is the same as what was the council of the same name in Portuguese...
, East Timor
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
(ratified in 2002) Esch-sur-Alzette
Esch-sur-Alzette
Esch-sur-Alzette is a commune with city status, in south-western Luxembourg. It is the country's second city, and its second-most populous commune, with a population of 29,853 people...
, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
(ratified in 2004-2005) Fes
Fes
Fes or Fez is the second largest city of Morocco, after Casablanca, with a population of approximately 1 million . It is the capital of the Fès-Boulemane region....
, Fès-Boulemane
Fès-Boulemane
Fès-Boulemane ) is one of the sixteen regions of Morocco. It is situated in northern Morocco. It covers an area of 19,795 km² and has a population of 1,573,055 . The capital is Fès....
, Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
(ratified in 1988) Halle
Halle, Saxony-Anhalt
Halle is the largest city in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is also called Halle an der Saale in order to distinguish it from the town of Halle in North Rhine-Westphalia...
, Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt is a landlocked state of Germany. Its capital is Magdeburg and it is surrounded by the German states of Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, Saxony, and Thuringia.Saxony-Anhalt covers an area of...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
(ratified in 1975-1976) Island of Mozambique
Island of Mozambique
The Island of Mozambique lies off northern Mozambique, between the Mozambique Channel and Mossuril Bay. It has a population of around 14,000 people and is part of Nampula Province.-History:...
, Nampula, Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
(ratified 2003) Lund
Lund
-Main sights:During the 12th and 13th centuries, when the town was the seat of the archbishop, many churches and monasteries were built. At its peak, Lund had 27 churches, but most of them were demolished as result of the Reformation in 1536. Several medieval buildings remain, including Lund...
, Skåne
Skåne County
Skåne County is the southernmost administrative county or län, of Sweden, basically corresponding to the historical province Scania. It borders the counties of Halland, Kronoberg and Blekinge. The seat of residence for the Skåne Governor is the town of Malmö...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
(ratified in 2004) Mindelo
Mindelo
For the parish in Portugal, see Mindelo, PortugalMindelo , is a port city in the northern part of the island of São Vicente in Cape Verde. Mindelo is also the seat of the parish of Nossa Senhora da Luz, and this island's municipality...
, São Vicente
São Vicente, Cape Verde
São Vicente , also Son Visent or Son Sent in Cape Verdean Creole, is one of the Barlavento islands of Cape Verde. It is located between the islands of Santo Antão and Santa Luzia, with the Canal de São Vicente separating it from Santo Antão.- Geography :The island is roughly rectangular in shape...
, Cape Verde
Cape Verde
The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...
(ratified in 1994-1995) Padua
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
, Veneto
Veneto
Veneto is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Its population is about 5 million, ranking 5th in Italy.Veneto had been for more than a millennium an independent state, the Republic of Venice, until it was eventually annexed by Italy in 1866 after brief Austrian and French rule...
Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
(ratified in 1998/2000) Poitiers
Poitiers
Poitiers is a city on the Clain river in west central France. It is a commune and the capital of the Vienne department and of the Poitou-Charentes region. The centre is picturesque and its streets are interesting for predominant remains of historical architecture, especially from the Romanesque...
, Vienne
Vienne
Vienne is the northernmost département of the Poitou-Charentes region of France, named after the river Vienne.- Viennese history :Vienne is one of the original 83 departments, established on March 4, 1790 during the French Revolution. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Poitou,...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
(ratified in 1979) Salamanca
Salamanca
Salamanca is a city in western Spain, in the community of Castile and León. Because it is known for its beautiful buildings and urban environment, the Old City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. It is the most important university city in Spain and is known for its contributions to...
, Castile and León
Castile and León
Castile and León is an autonomous community in north-western Spain. It was so constituted in 1983 and it comprises the historical regions of León and Old Castile...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
(ratified in 1980-1981) Santa Clara
Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara , founded in 1777 and incorporated in 1852, is a city in Santa Clara County, in the U.S. state of California. The city is the site of the eighth of 21 California missions, Mission Santa Clara de Asís, and was named after the mission. The Mission and Mission Gardens are located on the...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(ratified in 1971-1972) Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain.The city's Cathedral is the destination today, as it has been throughout history, of the important 9th century medieval pilgrimage route, the Way of St. James...
, Galicia, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
(ratified in 1994) Santos
Santos (São Paulo)
-Sister cities: Shimonoseki, Japan Nagasaki, Japan Funchal, Portugal Trieste, Italy Coimbra, Portugal Ansião, Portugal Arouca, Portugal Ushuaia, Argentina Havana, Cuba Taizhou. China Ningbo. China Constanţa, Romania Ulsan, South Korea Colón, Panama* Cadiz, Spain...
, São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
(ratified in 1981) São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
(ratified in 1997) Taipa
Taipa
Taipa is the smaller of the two islands in the Chinese special administrative region of Macao .- Geography :It is 2.5 kilometres from Macau Peninsula and east of the Lesser Hengqin Island of Zhuhai, Guangdong Province...
, Macao
Mação
Mação is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 400.0 km² and a total population of 7,763 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of eight parishes, and is located in the Santarém District....
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
(ratified in 1998) Yaroslavl
Yaroslavl
Yaroslavl is a city and the administrative center of Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia, located northeast of Moscow. The historical part of the city, a World Heritage Site, is located at the confluence of the Volga and the Kotorosl Rivers. It is one of the Golden Ring cities, a group of historic cities...
, Yaroslavl Oblast
Yaroslavl Oblast
Yaroslavl Oblast is a federal subject of Russia , which is located in the Central Federal District, surrounded by Tver, Moscow, Ivanovo, Vladimir, Kostroma, and Vologda Oblasts. This geographic location affords the oblast the advantages of proximity to Moscow and St. Petersburg...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
(ratified in 1984) Zaragoza
Zaragoza
Zaragoza , also called Saragossa in English, is the capital city of the Zaragoza Province and of the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain...
, Aragon
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
(ratified in 2004-2005)
Economy
Of the companies who have their headquarters in the municipality, the majority are involved in retail and commerce, complimented by construction, manufacturing and real estate, while the majority of workers are employed in tertiary industries/businesses. There is a move by municipal authorities to bring in more innovation and high-technology businesses, through initiatives such as the Coimbra Innovation Park (constructed beginning in 2008), with the objective of promoting innovation and companies that promote reseach and development (such as nanotechnologyNanotechnology
Nanotechnology is the study of manipulating matter on an atomic and molecular scale. Generally, nanotechnology deals with developing materials, devices, or other structures possessing at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometres...
company Innovnano, a subsidary of Companhia União Fabril
Companhia União Fabril
The Companhia União Fabril is a Portuguese chemical corporation and a part of Grupo José de Mello.-History:The company was founded by Alfredo da Silva in 1871 and managed by his descendents, including José Manuel de Mello as a family-run business conglomerate. CUF was one of the largest and most...
).
In agriculture, the majority of these workers are self-employed and involved in the cultivation of cereals (grain), temporary pasture-lands, forage crops and vineyards, but also includes the cultivation of legumes, potato, flowers and ornamental plants, citrus plants, subtropical and fresh fruit, in addition to olives.
Ostensibly, visitors are attracted to municipality of Coimbra for its touristic landscape, including the popular and religious festivals; the landscapes; and the monuments, historical places and architecture of the region. Most travelers stay in Coimbra 1.5 days, usually staying at many of the hotels, residences or hospices (although capacity is between 41.8-47.4% in the parishes and from 79.8% in the city).
Transportation
A1 - Auto-estrada do Norte
The A1 is the principal motorway in Portugal. It connects Lisbon, the capital, to Porto, the country's second-largest city, and serves other important cities like Coimbra and Leiria. A1 is operated by Brisa - Auto-estradas de Portugal, S.A....
motorway (connecting Coimbra to Lisbon and Porto), the municipality is also connected by a series of roads and public services that unifies the regional communities. It is served by the SMTUC Serviços Municipalizados de Transportes Urbanos de Coimbra , which includes not only the Coimbra trolleybus system
Trolleybuses in Coimbra
The Coimbra trolleybus system forms part of the public transport network in the city of Coimbra, Portugal. Opened in 1947, it supplemented, and then eventually replaced, the Coimbra tramway network.-History:...
and tram network that connect the old city, but also bus services into the municipality (it is a interregional bus service hub for Centro region).
Throughout Coimbra there are rail stations that connect the principal parishes of the municipality (Coimbra-B) with Porto and Lisbon, while a small spur links to the main station (Coimbra-A). A regional line (the Linha da Lousºa) also runs from Coimbra Park (at the south edge of the city centre) to Miranda do Corvo, Lousã, Serpins and others, including links to Figueira da Foz
Figueira da Foz
Figueira da Foz , also known as Figueira for short, is a municipality in the Coimbra District, in Portugal. It is located at the mouth of the Mondego River, 40 km west of Coimbra, and sheltered by hills ....
(Ramal de Alfarelos), Guarda
Guarda, Portugal
Guarda is a city in Guarda Municipality, Portugal. The city has a population of 32 111Guarda was founded in 1199 by the second king of Portugal, Sancho I....
and Vilar Formoso
Vilar Formoso
Vilar Formoso is a town and civil parish in the municipality of Almeida, Portugal. One of the most important border crossings between Portugal and Spain is located just next to the town...
(Linha da Beira Alta).
The banks of the Mondego River are linked by several bridges, including prominently the Ponte do Açude, the Ponte de Santa Clara (which is the oldest) and the Ponte Rainha Santa (also known as Ponte Europa), while the more recent Ponte Pedonal de Pedro e Inês is the modernist pedestrian bridge that connects both banks.
A regional airfield is located on a hilltop overlooking the parishs of Cernache and Antanhol, some 7.5 kilometres southwest of the city centre. The Aeródromo Municipal Bissaya Barreto (CBP) [PCO], has a 920 metre runway, with Flight Information Service
Flight Information Service
A flight information service is a form of air traffic service which is available to any aircraft within a flight information region , as agreed internationally by ICAO....
s until the sunset and facilities for private flights.
Architecture
Civic
- Forest/Moorish City of Antanhol , Antanhol
- Palace of Sub-Ripas , Almedina
- São Sebastião Aqueduct/Garden Arches , Sé Nova
- University of Coimbra , Sé Nova
Military
- Arch and Tower of the Almedina , Almedina
Religious
- Cathedral (Nova) of CoimbraNew Cathedral of CoimbraThe New Cathedral of Coimbra is the current bishopric seat of the city of Coimbra, in Portugal. The Cathedral is located near the historical University of Coimbra in the upper part of the town ....
, Sé Nova - Cathedral (Velha) of CoimbraOld Cathedral of CoimbraThe Old Cathedral of Coimbra is one of the most important Romanesque Roman Catholic buildings in Portugal. Construction of the Sé Velha began some time after the Battle of Ourique , when Count Afonso Henriques declared himself King of Portugal and chose Coimbra as capital...
, Almedina - Chapel of the Treasurer , Sé Nova
- Church and Convent of São Marcos , São Silvestre
- Church of Nossa Senhora da Graça , Santa CruzSanta Cruz (Coimbra)Santa Cruz is an urban-rural Portuguese civil parish in the municipality of Coimbra. In 2001, its population was 6866 inhabitants, in an area of 5.56 km² that parallels the north margin of the Mondego River, extending to the village of Adémia in Trouxemil .-History:After the Christian conquest...
- Church of São Domingos , Santa CruzSanta Cruz (Coimbra)Santa Cruz is an urban-rural Portuguese civil parish in the municipality of Coimbra. In 2001, its population was 6866 inhabitants, in an area of 5.56 km² that parallels the north margin of the Mondego River, extending to the village of Adémia in Trouxemil .-History:After the Christian conquest...
- Church of São Salvador , Sé Nova
- Church of São Tiago , São Bartolomeu
- College of São Agostinho , Sé Nova
- College of São Jerónimo , Sé Nova
- College of São Tomas , Sé Nova
- Cross of São Marcos , São Silvestre
- Episcopal Palace of CoimbraNational Museum Machado de CastroThe National Museum Machado de Castro is an art museum in Coimbra, Portugal, named after the renowned Portuguese sculptor Joaquim Machado de Castro. It is one of the most important art museums in Portugal, and is housed in the former Palace of the Bishops...
, Sé Nova - Manga Cloister , Santa CruzSanta Cruz (Coimbra)Santa Cruz is an urban-rural Portuguese civil parish in the municipality of Coimbra. In 2001, its population was 6866 inhabitants, in an area of 5.56 km² that parallels the north margin of the Mondego River, extending to the village of Adémia in Trouxemil .-History:After the Christian conquest...
- Monastery of Santa Clara-a-NovaMonastery of Santa Clara-a-NovaThe Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova is a monastery in Coimbra, Portugal. It was built to replace the mediaeval Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha, located nearby, which at the time was prone to frequent flooding by the waters of the Mondego river. The monastery was built in the 17th and 18th...
, Santa Clara - Monastery of Santa Clara-a-VelhaMonastery of Santa Clara-a-VelhaThe ruins of the Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha are located in the city of Coimbra, in Portugal. The monastery was built in the 14th century on the left bank of the Mondego River, but had to be abandoned in the 17th century due to frequent floods...
, Santa Clara - Monastery of Santa Cruz , Santa CruzSanta Cruz (Coimbra)Santa Cruz is an urban-rural Portuguese civil parish in the municipality of Coimbra. In 2001, its population was 6866 inhabitants, in an area of 5.56 km² that parallels the north margin of the Mondego River, extending to the village of Adémia in Trouxemil .-History:After the Christian conquest...
- Monastery of Santa Maria de Celas , Santo António de Olivais
- Monastery of São João das Donas , Santa CruzSanta Cruz (Coimbra)Santa Cruz is an urban-rural Portuguese civil parish in the municipality of Coimbra. In 2001, its population was 6866 inhabitants, in an area of 5.56 km² that parallels the north margin of the Mondego River, extending to the village of Adémia in Trouxemil .-History:After the Christian conquest...
- (Former) Church of Carmo , Santa CruzSanta Cruz (Coimbra)Santa Cruz is an urban-rural Portuguese civil parish in the municipality of Coimbra. In 2001, its population was 6866 inhabitants, in an area of 5.56 km² that parallels the north margin of the Mondego River, extending to the village of Adémia in Trouxemil .-History:After the Christian conquest...
- (Former) Portico of the Church of Santa Ana , Sé Nova
Education
Coimbra has been called A cidade dos estudantes (the city of the students) or, alternately, the Portuguese Athens , because of its long, storied-relationship with the University of Coimbra (the oldest and largest public universityUniversity
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
in Portugal, whose origins can be traced back to the 13th century). Similarly, it is the home to the oldest students' union
Students' union
A students' union, student government, student senate, students' association, guild of students or government of student body is a student organization present in many colleges and universities, and has started appearing in some high schools...
, theAssociação Académica de Coimbra
Associação Académica de Coimbra
The Coimbra Academic Association is the students' union of the University of Coimbra . Founded in Coimbra on November 3, 1887, it is the oldest students' union in Portugal...
(Academic Association of Coimbra), established in 1887. Many of the students select Coimbra owing to the variety of degrees offered in different fields, the student-friendly environment of the municipality, and the prestige associated with Coimbra's ancient academic history.
Other prominent public-sector institutions include the Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra (a polytechnic
Polytechnic (Portugal)
A polytechnic is a higher education educational institution in Portugal created in the 1980s. After 1998 they were upgraded to institutions which are allowed to confer licenciatura degrees. Before then, they only awarded short-cycle degrees which were known as bacharelatos and didn't provide...
institute) and the Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Coimbra
Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Coimbra
The Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Coimbra is a public nursing school in Coimbra, Portugal.-History:It was created after the 2004 decree law Decreto-Lei nº 175/2004 de 21 de Julho through the merging of the two previous nursing schools of Coimbra: the Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Bissaya...
(a nursing school
Nursing school
A nursing school is a type of educational institution, or part thereof, providing education and training to become a fully qualified nurse. The nature of nursing education and nursing qualifications varies considerably across the world.-United Kingdom:...
), while several private institutions, such as the Instituto Superior Miguel Torga, the Instituto Superior Bissaya Barreto, the Escola Universitária Vasco da Gama and the Escola Universitária das Artes de Coimbra, provide complimentary services, in addition to the Escola de Hotelaria e Turismo de Coimbra (Coimbra Hotel and Tourism School). The city has also a large number of public and private basic and secondary schools, among these some of the best-ranked in the country, like Escola Secundária Infanta D. Maria (public), Escola Secundária José Falcão (public), "Escola EB2/3 Martim de Freitas" (public) and Colégio Rainha Santa Isabel (private), as well as several kindergartens and nurseries.
Culture
Coimbra celebrates is municipal holiday on 4 July, in honour of Elizabeth of AragonElizabeth of Aragon
Elizabeth of Aragon, also known as Saint Elizabeth of Portugal, T.O.S.F. , was queen consort of Portugal, a tertiary of the Franciscan Order and is venerated as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church.-Biography:Elizabeth was a descendant of one of the most powerful families in Europe:...
(spouse of the King Denis
Denis of Portugal
Dinis , called the Farmer King , was the sixth King of Portugal and the Algarve. The eldest son of Afonso III of Portugal by his second wife, Beatrice of Castile and grandson of king Alfonso X of Castile , Dinis succeeded his father in 1279.-Biography:As heir to the throne, Infante Dinis was...
); a quasi-religious/civic celebration that celebrated the life of the former Queen, that includes a fireworks display following the night-time march of the penitents.
The Fado de Coimbra is a highly stylized genre of fado
Fado
Fado is a music genre which can be traced to the 1820s in Portugal, but probably with much earlier origins. Fado historian and scholar, Rui Vieira Nery, states that "the only reliable information on the history of Fado was orally transmitted and goes back to the 1820s and 1830s at best...
music originated in Coimbra. Among its most notable and historical adherents are guitarist Carlos Paredes
Carlos Paredes
Carlos Paredes, ComSE, was a virtuoso Portuguese guitar player, born in Coimbra, son of the equally famous Artur Paredes. He is credited with popularising the medium internationally during the 20th century, being frequently considered to be the most talented Portuguese musician in the 20th century...
and singer Zeca Afonso
Zeca Afonso
José Manuel Cerqueira Afonso dos Santos, known as Zeca Afonso or just Zeca , was born in Aveiro, Portugal, the son of José Nepomuceno Afonso, a judge, and Maria das Dores. Zeca is among the most influential folk and political musicians in Portuguese history...
, while the Orfeon Académico de Coimbra
Orfeon Académico de Coimbra
Orfeon Académico de Coimbra is the oldest and one of the most famous academic choirs in Portugal. It was established in 1880 by the then University of Coimbra's law student João Arroio, with the name Sociedade Choral do Orpheon Académico....
(the oldest and most famous academic choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
in Portugal) and the Associação Académica de Coimbra
Associação Académica de Coimbra
The Coimbra Academic Association is the students' union of the University of Coimbra . Founded in Coimbra on November 3, 1887, it is the oldest students' union in Portugal...
are important organizations that promote the culture and stylings of this sub-genra of music. In addition, Coimbra has a contemporary music, boasting several live music venues, and some of the most popular clubs and music festivals in Portugal. Moreover, theConservatório de Música de Coimbra, musical departments of the Associação Académica de Coimbra
Associação Académica de Coimbra
The Coimbra Academic Association is the students' union of the University of Coimbra . Founded in Coimbra on November 3, 1887, it is the oldest students' union in Portugal...
and the music programmes of the Faculty of Letters are noted by many of top music schools in the country.
Coimbra is also known for its university students' festivals, that include the Festa das Latas ("Festival of the Tin Cans"), a homecoming
Homecoming
Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni of a school. It most commonly refers to a tradition in many universities, colleges and high schools in North America...
parade at the beginning of the academic year, and the traditional second-semester eight-day-long Queima das Fitas
Queima das Fitas
The Queima das Fitas is a traditional festivity of the students of some Portuguese universities, organized originally by the students of the University of Coimbra.- History :...
("The Burning of the Ribbons"), which are open to the entire community and attract national and international tourists.
As the third-largest regional media market in Portugal, the Portuguese public radio and television broadcaster RTP
Rádio e Televisão de Portugal
Rádio e Televisão de Portugal, S.A.,commonly known as RTP, is Portugal's public service broadcasting organization. It operates four terrestrial television channels and three national radio channels, as well as several satellite and cable offerings....
has regional offices and studios in Coimbra, while theDiário de Coimbra
Diário de Coimbra
Diário de Coimbra is one of the three main newspapers of Coimbra, Portugal.Its current editor-in-chief is Adriano Lucas....
and the Diário As Beiras are the two major newspapers based in Coimbra.
Sport
Coimbra is home to Associação Académica de Coimbra (known simply as Académica), an autonomous professional footballFootball (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
team of the University of Coimbra students' union, founded in 1872. Obtaining its autonomy in the 1980s, Académica plays in the Portuguese Liga
Portuguese Liga
The Primeira Liga , formerly called Primeira Divisão, currently named Liga ZON Sagres after their main sponsors, is the top professional association football division of the Portuguese football league system...
from the local Estádio Cidade de Coimbra
Estádio Cidade de Coimbra
The Estádio Finibanco Cidade de Coimbra is a stadium in Coimbra, Portugal. This stadium belongs to the Municipality of Coimbra and is mainly used by the Académica de Coimbra's football team...
stadium, while the multisports clubs of Coimbra's students' union Associação Académica de Coimbra
Associação Académica de Coimbra
The Coimbra Academic Association is the students' union of the University of Coimbra . Founded in Coimbra on November 3, 1887, it is the oldest students' union in Portugal...
, provides training and competition in an wide array of sports such as rugby, volleyball, handball, rink hockey, basketball, baseball, tennis, swimming and rowing, among many others.
In addition to the 30,000-seat Estádio Cidade de Coimbra
Estádio Cidade de Coimbra
The Estádio Finibanco Cidade de Coimbra is a stadium in Coimbra, Portugal. This stadium belongs to the Municipality of Coimbra and is mainly used by the Académica de Coimbra's football team...
(which was a site of 2004 European Football Championship), the municipality of Coimbra boasts several sports venues, including the municipal olympic-size swimming pool complex, the multiuse sports complex , the Estádio Municipal Sérgio Conceição
Estádio Municipal Sérgio Conceição
Estádio Municipal Sérgio Conceição is a football stadium in Taveiro, in the city of Coimbra, Portugal...
and the Estádio Universitário de Coimbra(the University's extensive sports complex located on Mondego's left bank). In addition, the Pavilhão Jorge Anjinho sports arena (home of Académica), Pavilhão dos Olivais, and Pavilhão do C.F. União de Coimbra, are other places where some of the most important indoor sports clashes involving teams of Coimbra are played. This includes the Clube de Futebol União de Coimbra
Clube de Futebol União de Coimbra
Clube de Futebol União de Coimbra, usually known as União de Coimbra , is a sports club in the city of Coimbra, Portugal. The club was founded in 1919 and has a large array of sports departments which includes football, futsal, basketball, aikido, volleyball and swimming.The main football team of...
(simply União Coimbra), another sports with a long history of playing football in the region, today in the Portuguese Second Division
Portuguese Second Division
The Portuguese Second Division is a football league in Portugal, situated at the third level of the Portuguese football league system...
.
Notable citizens
- Afonso Henriques (c. 1109; Guimarães/ViseuViseuViseu is both a city and a municipality in the Dão-Lafões Subregion of Centro Region, Portugal. The municipality, with an area of 507.1 km², has a population of 99,593 , and the city proper has 47,250...
– 6 December 1185; Sé Nova, first PortuguesePortugalPortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
monarch, whose established his residence in the seat of County of CoimbraCounty of CoimbraThe County of Coimbra was a political entity instituted as a subsidiary county for the prince Ardavast or Sisebuto son of King Wittiza until the fall of Visigothic Hispania by Abderraman III ruler of Al-Andalus. The first counts established a long and great dynasty which were several families and...
, he was buried in the Monastery of Santa Cruz; - Sancho ISancho I of PortugalSancho I , nicknamed the Populator , second monarch of Portugal, was born on 11 November 1154 in Coimbra and died on 26 March 1212 in the same city. He was the second but only surviving legitimate son and fourth child of Afonso I of Portugal by his wife, Maud of Savoy. Sancho succeeded his father...
(11 November 1154;Sé Nova - 26 March 1212Sé Nova), second king of PortugalPortugalPortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, oldest son of Afonso Henriques, responsible for ending Galicia border disputes, and shifting the kingdom's growth to the south, capturing Moorish lands and enlarging Portuguese territory; - Afonso II (23 April 1185;Sé Nova - 25 March 1223;Sé Nova), third Portuguese monarch, was able to maintain the peace created by the military gains of his father, and grandfather, enhancing his relationship with the Catholic Church;
- Sancho IISancho II of PortugalSancho II , nicknamed "the Pious" and "the Caped" or "the Capuched" , , fourth King of Portugal, was the eldest son of Afonso II of Portugal by his wife, Infanta Urraca of Castile...
(8 September 1209; Sé Nova- 4 January 1248; ToledoToledo- Places :Belize:*Toledo District*Toledo SettlementBrazil:*Pedro de Toledo, São Paulo*Toledo, ParanáColombia:*Toledo, Norte de SantanderPhilippines:*Toledo City, CebuSpain:*Toledo, Spain *Kingdom of Toledo...
, SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
), the Pious was forced off the thrown by an alliance of nobles who, although grateful for their monarch's ReconquistaReconquistaThe Reconquista was a period of almost 800 years in the Middle Ages during which several Christian kingdoms succeeded in retaking the Muslim-controlled areas of the Iberian Peninsula broadly known as Al-Andalus...
of Moorish lands, did not appreciate his poor administration of the country. His brother AfonsoAfonso III of PortugalAfonso III , or Affonso , Alfonso or Alphonso or Alphonsus , the Bolognian , the fifth King of Portugal and the first to use the title King of Portugal and the Algarve, from 1249...
marched into Portugal, with the support of the Catholic Church, and exiled him to ToledoToledo- Places :Belize:*Toledo District*Toledo SettlementBrazil:*Pedro de Toledo, São Paulo*Toledo, ParanáColombia:*Toledo, Norte de SantanderPhilippines:*Toledo City, CebuSpain:*Toledo, Spain *Kingdom of Toledo...
; - Afonso III (5 May 1210; Sé Nova – 16 February 1279) , unlike his brother, Afonso paid particular attention to the administration of his Kingdom (stylized Kingdom of Portugal and the Algarves), holding the first Portuguese CortesCortes GeneralesThe Cortes Generales is the legislature of Spain. It is a bicameral parliament, composed of the Congress of Deputies and the Senate . The Cortes has power to enact any law and to amend the constitution...
that reunited the administration, nobility, merchants and landowners, but his taxing of the Church resulted in his ex-communication, likely bringing on his early death, and the ascendency of his son DenisDenis of PortugalDinis , called the Farmer King , was the sixth King of Portugal and the Algarve. The eldest son of Afonso III of Portugal by his second wife, Beatrice of Castile and grandson of king Alfonso X of Castile , Dinis succeeded his father in 1279.-Biography:As heir to the throne, Infante Dinis was...
; - Pedro IPeter I of PortugalPeter I , called the Just , was the eighth King of Portugal and the Algarve from 1357 until his death. He was the third but only surviving son of Afonso IV of Portugal and his wife, princess Beatrice of Castile....
(19 April 1320; Sé Nova – 18 January 1367; AlcobaçaAlcobaça MunicipalityAlcobaça Municipality contains the city of Alcobaça. It is located in Leiria District and Oeste Subregion, in Portugal, formerly included in the Estremadura Province...
), the Just was creditted with a peaceful reign, following the supposed death of his lover Inês de CastroInês de CastroInês Peres de Castro was a Galician noblewoman born of a Portuguese mother...
at the hands of his father's men; - Francisco ÁlvaresFrancisco ÁlvaresFrancisco Álvares was a Portuguese missionary and explorer. In 1515 he traveled to Ethiopia as part of the Portuguese embassy to emperor Lebna Dengel accompanied by returning Ethiopian ambassador Matheus. The embassy arrived only in 1520 to Ethiopia where he joined long sought Portuguese envoy...
( c. 1465; Sé Nova - c.1541; RomeRomeRome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
), a missionary, explorer and diplomat who traveled to EthiopiaEthiopiaEthiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, joining Pêro da CovilhãPêro da CovilhãPedro or Pêro da Covilhã was a Portuguese diplomat and explorer.He was a native of Covilhã in Beira. In his early life he had gone to Castile and entered the service of Alphonso, Duke of Seville...
, before returning to Lisbon in 1526-1527, writing the Verdadeira Informação das Terras do Preste João das Indias (A True Relation of the Lands of Prester John of the Indies); - Francisco de Sá de MirandaFrancisco de Sá de MirandaFrancisco de Sá de Miranda was a Portuguese poet of the Renaissance.-Life:Sá de Miranda was the son of a canon of Coimbra belonging to the ancient and noble family of Sa...
(28 August 1481; Sé Nova – 17 May 1558; Amares), a RenaissanceRenaissanceThe Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
poet, who studied Greek, Latin and Philosophy at the University (when it was in Lisbon), but who travelled abroad meeting classical writers in Spain and Italy, before being received in the court of John III of PortugalJohn III of PortugalJohn III , nicknamed o Piedoso , was the fifteenth King of Portugal and the Algarves. He was the son of King Manuel I and Maria of Aragon, the third daughter of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile...
between 1526-1527; - Pedro NunesPedro NunesPedro Nunes , was a Portuguese mathematician, cosmographer, and professor, from a New Christian family. Nunes, considered to be one of the greatest mathematicians of his time , is best known for his contributions in the technical field of navigation, which was crucial to the Portuguese period of...
(c. 1502; Alcácer do Sal – 11 August 1578; Sé Nova), a 16th century mathematicianMathematicianA mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
and cosmographer responsible for contributions to navigation during the Age of DiscoveryAge of DiscoveryThe Age of Discovery, also known as the Age of Exploration and the Great Navigations , was a period in history starting in the early 15th century and continuing into the early 17th century during which Europeans engaged in intensive exploration of the world, establishing direct contacts with...
; - Mem de SáMem de SáMem de Sá was a Governor-General of Brazil from 1557-1572.He was born in Coimbra, Portugal, around 1500, the year of discovery of Brazil by a naval fleet commanded by Pedro Álvares Cabral....
(c. 1500; Sé Nova – 2 March 1572; SalvadorSalvador, BahiaSalvador is the largest city on the northeast coast of Brazil and the capital of the Northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia. Salvador is also known as Brazil's capital of happiness due to its easygoing population and countless popular outdoor parties, including its street carnival. The first...
, BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
), third Governor-General of Brazil, responsible for the pacification of the indigenous population, and the expulsion of the French from Rio de Janeiro, by convincing the Tamoyo Confederation to withdraw their support; - Joaquim Machado de CastroJoaquim Machado de CastroJoaquim Machado de Castro was one of Portugal's foremost sculptors. He wrote extensively on his works and the theory behind them, including a full-length discussion of the statue of D...
(19 June 1731 – 17 November 1822; LisbonLisbonLisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
), an 18th century sculptor, notable for his equestrian statue of Joseph I of Portugal, with detailed analysis and diagrams, now occupying the centre of the Praça do ComércioPraça do ComércioThe Praça do Comércio is located in the city of Lisbon, Portugal. Situated near the Tagus river, the square is still commonly known as Terreiro do Paço , because it was the location of the Paços da Ribeira until it was destroyed by the great 1755 Lisbon Earthquake...
; - Carlos SeixasCarlos SeixasJosé António Carlos de Seixas, , was a Portuguese composer, the son of the cathedral organist, Francisco Vaz and Marcelina Nunes.Seixas was born in Coimbra...
(11 June 1704 – 25 August 1742; LisbonLisbonLisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
), prominent composer, musician and teacher; - João Maria Correia Ayres de Campos, 1st Count of AmealJoão Maria Correia Ayres de Campos, 1st Count of AmealJoão Maria Correia Ayres de Campos, 1st Count of Ameal was a Portuguese politician, art collector, maecenas and humanist, renowned chiefly for having assembled one of Portugal's largest and most important private art collections, as well as what was at the time the largest private library in the...
(5 February 1847–13 July 1920, a politicianPoliticianA politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, art collector and humanistHumanismHumanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. In philosophy and social science, humanism is a perspective which affirms some notion of human nature, and is contrasted with anti-humanism....
, responsible for assembling one of Portugal's largest and most important private art collections; - Mário Simões DiasMário Simões DiasMário Simões Dias de Figueiredo was a Portuguese musicologist and professional violinist , as well as a prolific music critic and poet...
(2 July 1903 – 8 July 1974; Lourenço MarquesMaputoMaputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its...
, MozambiqueMozambiqueMozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
), a violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist, musicologistMusicologyMusicology is the scholarly study of music. The word is used in narrow, broad and intermediate senses. In the narrow sense, musicology is confined to the music history of Western culture...
and lecturer, who co-founded the Academia de CoimbraandInstituto de Música, before hosting a classical music program on the national radio, and later in Mozambique; - Lúcia dos Santos (28 March 1907; AljustrelAljustrel (Fátima)Aljustrel is a hamlet on the outskirts of Fátima, Portugal, municipality of Ourém. Famous for being stage for some events in the Miracle of Fátima, there is now a small house-museum in that spot....
– 13 February 2005; Sé Nova), one of the three visionary children of FátimaFatima-People:* Fatima , a female given name of Arabic origin* Fatima bint Muhammad, daughter of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad* Fatima Jinnah, the younger sister of Muhammad Ali Jinnah...
, who came to live at the CarmeliteConvent of Santa Teresa; - Adolfo Correia da RochaMiguel TorgaMiguel Torga, pseudonym of Adolfo Correia da Rocha is considered one of the greatest Portuguese writers of the 20th century...
(12 August 1907; São Martinho de AntaSão Martinho de Anta (Sabrosa)São Martinho de Anta is a civil parish in the municipality of Sabrosa in the district of Vila Real. The small parish extends into an area of 15.95 km², and includes a minor population of 870 inhabitants...
– 17 January 1995), a medical doctor, later poet, short story essayist, theatre writer and composer of a 16-volume diary, receiving along his career the Montaigne Prize (in 1981), the first Prémio Camões (in 1989) and nominations for the Nobel prize for Literature; - Álvaro Barreirinhas CunhalÁlvaro CunhalÁlvaro Barreirinhas Cunhal, who used the name Álvaro Cunhal , was a Portuguese politician. He was one of the major opponents of the dictatorial regime of Estado Novo. He served as secretary-general of the Portuguese Communist Party from 1961 to 1992...
(10 November 1913; Coimbra — 13 June 2005; LisbonLisbonLisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
), politician and pro-Soviet leader of the Portuguese Communist PartyPortuguese Communist PartyThe Portuguese Communist Party is a major left-wing political party in Portugal. It is a Marxist-Leninist party, and its organization is based upon democratic centralism. The party also considers itself to be patriotic and internationalist.... - Carlos ParedesCarlos ParedesCarlos Paredes, ComSE, was a virtuoso Portuguese guitar player, born in Coimbra, son of the equally famous Artur Paredes. He is credited with popularising the medium internationally during the 20th century, being frequently considered to be the most talented Portuguese musician in the 20th century...
(16 February 1925 – 23 July 2004), a virtuoso guitar player and composer, known as the "man of a thousand fingers"; - Carlos Mota PintoCarlos Mota PintoCarlos Alberto da Mota Pinto, GCC, GCIP, was a Portuguese professor and politician.-Career:He graduated as a Licentiate in Law and Doctorate in Judicial Sciences from the Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra. He was also a Professor at the Portuguese Catholic University and several foreign...
(25 July 1936; PombalPombal, PortugalPombal is a town in Pombal Municipality, Portugal. The population of the city is about 16.000 inhabitants....
– 7 May 1985), a professor and politician, interim Prime Minister of Portugal between 1978 and 1979, Vice-President in 1983 and President (1984-1985); - Mário CrespoMário Crespo-Early life:He was born in Coimbra, his father was an employee of the Portuguese bank Banco Nacional Ultramarino , and his mother, a professor at the Commercial School. As civil servants of the Portuguese Empire, they moved to Portuguese Mozambique capital, Lourenço Marques, with their only baby son...
(13 April 1947 - ), a journalist and reporter; - Alberto Raposo Pidwell Tavares, known as Al BertoAl BertoAl Berto was the pseudonym used by the Portuguese poet Alberto Raposo Pidwell Tavares .-Works:*À Procura do Vento num Jardim d'Agosto, 1977.*Meu Fruto de Morder, Todas as Horas, 1980....
(11 January 1948 – June 13, 1997; LisbonLisbonLisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
), a poetPoetA poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
; - Zita SeabraZita SeabraZita Maria de Seabra Roseiro is a Portuguese politician.She joined the Portuguese Communist Party in 1966, before she was even eighteen years old and was controller of the UEC before and after the carnation revolution...
(25 May 1949; Santa CruzSanta Cruz (Coimbra)Santa Cruz is an urban-rural Portuguese civil parish in the municipality of Coimbra. In 2001, its population was 6866 inhabitants, in an area of 5.56 km² that parallels the north margin of the Mondego River, extending to the village of Adémia in Trouxemil .-History:After the Christian conquest...
- ), a politician; a former high-profile member of the Portuguese Communist PartyPortuguese Communist PartyThe Portuguese Communist Party is a major left-wing political party in Portugal. It is a Marxist-Leninist party, and its organization is based upon democratic centralism. The party also considers itself to be patriotic and internationalist....
, who renounced and criticized communist ideology, before the fall of Berlin Wall, later to joined the Social Democratic PartySocial Democratic Party (Portugal)The Social Democratic Party , is a centre-right liberal conservative political party in Portugal. It is commonly known by its initials, PSD; on ballot papers, its initials appear as PPD/PSD, with the first three letters coming from the party's original name, Democratic People's Party...
; - Pedro Passos CoelhoPedro Passos CoelhoPedro Manuel Mamede Passos Coelho , is Prime Minister of Portugal. Passos Coelho started very early in politics, becoming the national leader of the youth branch of the Social Democratic Party...
(24 July 1964 - ), a politician, leader of the Social Democratic PartySocial Democratic Party (Portugal)The Social Democratic Party , is a centre-right liberal conservative political party in Portugal. It is commonly known by its initials, PSD; on ballot papers, its initials appear as PPD/PSD, with the first three letters coming from the party's original name, Democratic People's Party...
, and Prime Minister of Portugal; - Sérgio Paulo Marceneiro da ConceiçãoSérgio ConceiçãoSérgio Paulo Marceneiro da Conceição is a retired Portuguese footballer who played mostly as a right winger.Known for his speed and strength, combined with his good dribbling and crossing skills, and fairly accurate shooting. During his extensive career, he played for ten different teams, in five...
(15 November 1974 - ), a international footballerFootball (soccer)Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
, who played for 10 different teams, representing Portugal in one World CupFIFA World CupThe FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
and European championshipUEFA European Football ChampionshipThe UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA . Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup, changing to the current...
; - José Eduardo Rosa Vale e CastroZé CastroJosé Eduardo Rosa Vale e Castro , aka Zé Castro, is a Portuguese footballer who plays for Deportivo de La Coruña in Spain, as a central defender.-Club career:...
(13 January 1983 - ), a international footballer, playing for Deportivo de La CoruñaDeportivo de La CoruñaReal Club Deportivo de La Coruña is a professional football club based in the city of A Coruña, Galicia; founded in 1906 and currently playing in Segunda División...
of SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
;
External links
- Turismo Centro de Portugal
- Forum Coimbra BBS
- Wikitravel