Coimbra

Built around a fortified hill above the Mondego River, Coimbra grew into one of Portugal’s foremost university cities. It served as the Portuguese capital during the Middle Ages before the court moved permanently to Lisbon, and its old upper town still carries that institutional weight. Founded in 1290, the University of Coimbra is among Europe’s oldest universities; its historic buildings, including the 18th-century Biblioteca Joanina, form a UNESCO World Heritage site. Below the Alta district, the riverbank and the newer city create a more contemporary counterpoint to the steep, scholarly streets. Find related webcams across Coimbra and the Mondego valley to build a fuller picture of central Portugal.

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