Highlights from the historical centre of Coimbra, Portugal’s oldest capital

Portugal's oldest university town sits majestically on a hill above the Mondego River, preserving centuries of remarkable history within its winding medieval streets. On this walking tour, you'll discover how Coimbra evolved from Roman settlement to royal capital and finally to a world-renowned center of learning, while exploring atmospheric plazas, ancient cathedrals, and hidden corners that reveal the city's fascinating past.

The tour starts at Largo da Portagem, once the main entrance to the city's commercial area. You'll explore the labyrinthine downtown with its medieval house (the only one surviving in Portugal), weave through ancient streets named after the trades once practiced there, and discover the church of Santa Cruz where Portugal's first two kings are buried. Along the way, you'll learn how Coimbra served as Portugal's first capital before Lisbon, witnessing the birth of the nation during the Reconquest period.

You'll climb the aptly named Back-Breaker steps to reach the upper town, passing the Old Cathedral that resembles a fortress, reflecting the turbulent times of its construction. The tour takes you past student Repúblicas with their colourfully decorated facades, through the 16th-century defensive system, and finally to the magnificent University buildings that crown the hilltop. The tour ends at Porta Férrea, the iron gate leading to what was once the royal palace, now the heart of Portugal's oldest university with its spectacular views over the Mondego River valley.

On this 90-minute tour, you'll have a chance to:

• Walk along the ancient defensive walls of the medieval city, with their privileged views of the river
• Discover the Romanesque Old Cathedral, where royal coronations took place during Coimbra's time as capital
• Explore the Roman cryptoportico beneath the Machado de Castro Museum, exceptionally well-preserved tunnels from the 1st century
• Learn about the unique Coimbra Fado tradition, performed only by male university students
• Visit the site where Portuguese consul Aristides de Sousa Mendes lived, who later saved thousands of Jewish refugees during WWII
• See the colorful student Repúblicas, communal houses with a tradition dating back to the 14th century
• Admire the magnificent University buildings that represent over 700 years of academic tradition

Take this journey through Coimbra's rich tapestry of history and culture to understand how this charming riverside city shaped Portugal's identity as a nation, while creating traditions that continue to this day.