Standing on the banks of the River Mondego, Coimbra is a very old city and visiting it is something of a history lesson, since you can travel across the centuries as you visit its remarkably rich heritage. 

But the city is best known for other lessons, which take place in its university, the oldest in Portugal and one of the oldest in Europe; it is the source of the most animated academic traditions in the country and of the name, "City of Students".

Do this route with the map

And indeed, it is in the University situated in the highest part of the city, an area classified as World Heritage by UNESCO, that the route we propose will start. The cluster of buildings is spread out around the Pátio das Escolas, a broad, flat courtyard that allows unhindered movement for wheelchair users. Right away, access to the main building - the Rectory (Reitoria) (10) – is via a flight of steps that cannot be climbed unaided, but once inside the areas are spacious and obstacle-free. Absolutely not to be missed is the visit to the Joanine Library (Biblioteca Joanina) (11), which can be entered via a ramp. Inside you will find more than 300 000 works displayed in beautiful gilded bookshelves. These can be admired from the ground floor where there are very few barriers to moving around, although the upper floors are only accessible via a staircase.


Coimbra - Universidade © ARPT Centro de Portugal

Close by is the New Cathedral (Sé Nova) (13), a building in the Mannerist style but whose access by steps up to the door makes it impossible for wheelchair users to enter without help. Meanwhile, in the Machado de Castro National Museum (Museu Nacional Machado de Castro) (12) everyone can appreciate the notable collection of jewellery, sculpture and paintings. However, one of the main attractions of this museum, the Roman Cryptoporticus, in not accessible, but it can be viewed in detail in the multimedia booth in 360o imaging. 

Coimbra - Sé Velha © ARPT Centro de Portugal

This part of the city has narrow streets that become steeper as you go towards the city centre (Baixa). This makes it difficult to get around and impedes the visit to the Old Cathedral (Sé Velha) (6). This is one of Coimbra's main monuments, but its flight of steps is impossible to climb without help. These steps provide the stage for serenades performed by students dressed in black cloaks who sing Coimbra fado, especially in the period at the end of the academic year. But listening to Coimbra fado is an unmissable experience and you can enjoy it in various bars around the city.

Coimbra - Baixa © ICVM

As an alternative we suggest that you go down to the city centre by means of the Market Lift (Elevador do mercado), which you can get in Rua Padre António Viera, near the New Cathedral. When you get out, next to the city market, you have two options. If you fancy strolling through a green space then turn right and head up the Avenida Sá da Bandeira whose central strip is a continuous garden up as far as the Praça da República. Here you find the Sereia Garden (Jardim da Sereia) (15), a really pleasant area, which extends through the Santa Cruz Park and has a slope and some obstacles to moving around it. Another must-see green space is the Botanical Garden (Jardim Botânico) (16), a completely accessible area which is accessed from the Rua Almeida Garrett and further on by the Rua de Tomar.

Coimbra - Igreja de Santa Cruz © ARPT Centro de Portugal

If when you come out of the Market Lift (Elevador do Mercado) you head in the opposite direction (to the left) you'll get to know the town centre, a livelier area with more shops. For this you should follow the Rua Olímpio Nicolau Rui Fernandes, which terminates in the Rua Sofia (8), also classified as World Heritage and along which several colleges belonging to the University are located. Turn left for the Praça 8 de Maio to visit the Santa Cruz Church (Igreja de Santa Cruz) (7), which you cannot help but notice for its strikingly handsome doorway. Within its fully accessible interior are the tombs of the first kings of Portugal. The route carries on towards the Largo da Portagem, passing by the São Tiago Church (Igreja de São Tiago) (6), a Gothic building with very poor accessibility since it is flanked by steps, and by the Praça do Comércio (5) a square filled with shops and terraces that somewhat impede movement. 

Coimbra - Rio Mondego/Ponte de Santa Clara © ARPT Centro de Portugal

The itinerary continues on the other side of the River Mondego, so you should cross the Santa Clara Bridge (Ponte de Santa Clara).  A few metres ahead, on the left, you come to the Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha (Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Velha) (2), built in the 13th century. Regularly invaded by floods from the river that have left deep scars, the monument, which is totally accessible on the ground floor, still retains an area of ruins and a unique atmosphere. Beside it is Portugal dos Pequenitos (1), a theme park with wide spaces and gardens where you will find miniature replicas of a number of Portuguese monuments and traditional houses.

Coimbra - Ponte Pedro e Inês/Parque Verde do Mondego © ARPT Centro de Portugal

We suggest that you carry on alongside the river, taking the Avenida Inês de Castro and the Choupalinho Park (Parque do Choupalinho) and enjoy the green area beside the Mondego. You can cross the river by the Pedro and Inês Bridge (Ponte Pedro e Inês) (3), a footbridge which is innovative in structure and design and leads to the Mondego Green Park (Parque Verde do Mondego) (4). Our visit ends here, beside the river in this really attractive area, with terraces, places for leisure and sports activities and the Central Portugal Pavilion (Pavilhão Centro de Portugal), created by the architects Siza Vieira and Souto de Moura. It is the venue for a number of cultural events.