Coimbra is the fourth-largest urban centre in Portugal, after Lisbon, Porto and Braga. Famous for its university, the first in the country and one of the oldest in Europe, Coimbra became a significant student destination, attracting young residents from all over the country and the world. Founded in 1290, Coimbra’s University stands proud with an important legacy, being classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2013.
The city centre shows impressive constructions from different periods of history, from the Roman occupation, which left an aqueduct, to the Muslim settlement and its fortified palace. Other emblematic buildings, such as the Santa Cruz and the Santa Clara-a-Velha Monastery, the Patheon (where the first kings of Portugal are buried), and the old Cathedral, make the city a major tourist destination to this day. During the Renaissance, Coimbra was considered one of the main artistic centres of Portugal.
As a universitarian city, Coimbra has a very vivid nightlife, especially in the periods when the university has its celebrations. But the city is way more than just a University, as stands as a big populational centre in Portugal. Coimbra attracts several residents looking for better conditions of life, as well as an affordable place to live, far from the big capitals of Lisbon and Porto. The city is well-connected by train, and bus lines with Lisbon and Porto, making it an easy place to live.
Find out more about Coimbra by reading our Coimbra Real Estate Guide.
