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Aeminium during the Roman Empire
Coimbra, today one of the largest cities in Portugal, is associated as a medieval capital and, above all, the seat of the oldest university in the country. However, the history of the city goes back even further.
The limestone hill, on which the settlement was built, lies on the Mondego River. Under the Romans‘ rule, this settlement was called Aeminium.
At that time, Aeminium was under the administration of nearby Conímbriga, one of the largest Roman cities discovered in the area of modern Portugal. Between 569 and 589 AD Conímbriga was invaded and plundered by the Visigoths, which led to its fall. It was then that Aeminium became the seat of the diocese, replacing Conímbriga, and even adopting its name, which later evolved and functioned as Colimbria.
The city also developed thanks to its position on the route connecting large Roman cities, Bracara Augusta (today’s Braga), which was the capital of the Hispania Gallaecia province, with Olisipo, which is today’s Lisbon.
The cryptoporticus which has survived to our times, comes from the Roman period of Coimbra’s history. It formed the basis (leveling the terrain) for the Roman forum and was also used to store food.
Muslim invasion of the Iberian Peninsula
The Visigoths ruled Colimbria until the Muslim invasion. During the first invasion of the Iberian Peninsula in 711-715, the city fell into the hands of Musa ibn Nusajr, the Arab governor of North Africa. Over the following centuries, Christian reconquests and subsequent Muslim invasions alternated.
The territory of Coimbra was finally regained in 1064 by Portuguese and Spanish Christians under the command of King Ferdinand I the Great (King of Castile and Leon).
In the 12th century, the city began to develop again. In 1132, for example, the ancient Roman bridge was rebuilt, fountains and cobbled Roman roads were restored. The construction of the Old Cathedral was also started. Already in the Middle Ages, the city was divided into the upper part, inhabited by the aristocracy and clergy, and the lower part for trade and crafts.
Coimbra – the medieval capital of Portugal
In 1139, Alfonso I the Conqueror, the first king of Portugal, decided to move the Portuguese capital to the south while placing it at a safe distance from the Moors still present in the south of the Iberian Peninsula. His choice fell on Coimbra. It remained the capital until 1385, when King Alfonso III moved the capital to the reconquested Lisbon.
University of Coimbra – the oldest university in Portugal
In 1290, King Denis I founded a university in Lisbon, the seat of which was transferred several times between Lisbon and Coimbra starting from 1306. However, in 1537 it was finally placed in the Royal Palace in Coimbra.
Today
Today’s Coimbra is a place endowed with great sentiment by the Portuguese. Narrow, steep streets and stairs leading from the Lower Town add lots of charm to its medieval character. 🙂 The oldest university in Portugal continues to attract students and gives the city a bit of youthful vigor. Unfortunately, even the Upper Town is filled to the brim with cars.
Photographs of Coimbra
Largo da Portagem 
Rua Ferreira Borges – a colorful street full of shops in the Lower Town 
Rua Visconde da Luz and the Church of São Tiago (on the left) 
Colorful Praça 8 de Maio 
Through the streets of Coimbra 
Igreja de Santa Cruz on Praça 8 de Maio 
Sunday morning at Rua Visconde da Luz 
Coimbra streets 
Arco Almedina – the old city gate 
At the gate to the Upper Town 
Torre de Almedina – former tower in Coimbra’s defensive wall 
Townhouses of the Upper Town 
Igreja de São João de Almedina and the National Museum Machado de Castro 
Old Cathedral (Sé Velha) in Coimbra 
Columned cloister (Via Latina) and the belfry visible from every point in the city – the symbol of the University of Coimbra 
Sala Grande dos Actos, where most of the celebrations take place – University of Coimbra 
University of Coimbra – former Royal Palace 
University of Coimbra 
New Cathedral (Sé Nova) in Coimbra (on the right) 
Portico above the Roman Cryptoporticus (University in the distance) 
Narrow passages (wandering around the Roman Cryptoporticus) 
Stairs inside the Roman Cryptoporticus 
Roman Cryptoporticus 
Mighty, defensive Old Cathedral (Sé Velha) in Coimbra 
Upper Town of Coimbra (on the left the Old Cathedral, on the right the New Cathedral visible in the distance) 
Lower Town on the Mondego River 
Aqueduto de São Sebastião 
Aqueduct and garden at Casa-Museu Bissaya Barreto 
Narrow and winding streets of Coimbra 
Baroque buildings of Largo da Portagem 
Coimbra on the hill 
Reconstructions
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Carly BB
I am a passionate enthusiast of travel, archeology, photography and dancing 🙂 On this page I try to combine the first three elements: P and show you that travelling becomes definitely more interesting when we discover visited places, and often inconspicuous ruins hide the most fascinating stories 🙂