Coimbra

With a dramatic hilltop location, the exceptionally attractive and unspoiled city of Coimbra served as Portugal’s capital from 1131 to 1255. Important archaeological remains, such as its well-preserved aqueduct, survive from when it was the Roman town of Aeminium. The city evolved into a major cultural center with the relocation (and renaming) of the University of Coimbra in 1537. This internationally famous institution contains an astonishingly ornate Baroque library. The old town comprises a maze of narrow and picturesque alleys. Overall, the atmosphere of Coimbra is gracious, cultivated and hospitable.