Coimbra is one of the most important Portuguese cities, and the biggest one in Portugal central region. The city has a population of 150.000 and 30.000 students in the University and other superior schools.
Coimbra always played a central role in the history of Portugal, and even before the independence of the country. In fact Coimbra was the country’s birthplace, as the first portuguese king, Afonso Henriques, probably was born in Coimbra, but with no doubt lived in the city since he was around 20 years old. That fact made Coimbra the first capital city of the kingdom during the first dynasty. It was always an important city, during the reconquista further south and in the cultural life of the country, especially because of the Santa Cruz Monastery and the role it played in arts, religion and culture.
The university, founded in 1290, came definitively in 1537 and it was the only one in Portugal until 1913, with an exception of 200 years with a Jesuitical university in Evora. The university, one of the oldest in Europe, attracts visitors from around the world due to its monumental buildings and history, making the city an important touristic destination in Portugal. It is worth to walk in the old city, the narrow streets and squares, the Botanical Garden, the banks of the river and the sopping area downtown.