Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Joanina Library - library of the University of Coimbra
Attractions & Activities
The first stop for any visitor must be the university, the buildings of which are classified
as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Numerous churches throughout the ages are dotted
around the city including the 12
th
Century Church of São Tiago, the Santa Cruz Monastery
which contains the remains of Portugal's first two kings, the Old and New Cathedrals dat-
ing from the 12
th
and 13
th
Centuries, the ruins of the Convent of Santa Clara-a-Velha, and
the 17
th
Century Convent of Santa Clara-a-Nova which replaced it.
As you would expect in a university city there are a variety of museums with the Machado
de Castro National Museum and the Torre de Anto among the highlights. Santa Cruz
Park and the Botanical Gardens provide the perfect places to stroll in the sunshine, while
the Portugal dos Pequeninos Theme Park reproduces former colonies in miniature village
form.
