Coimbra University is a classic example of a university city. It demonstrates the interdependence of a city and a university. The Old Town of Coimbra features an architectural language that serves the core functions of a university ranging from hostels to nightclubs and games and sports centers.

The University of Coimbra and its associated colleges is located on a hill overlooking the City. The university has evolved over a period of 7 centuries to make up its own well defined urban landscape. It was established in the 13th century on a hill that overlooks the beautiful town of Alta. The university was located within the larger Royal Palace of Alcocova in 1537. Much later, it developed into a series of colleges.

Coimbra University is a classic example of a university city. It demonstrates the interdependence of a city and a university. The Old Town of Coimbra features an architectural language that serves the core functions of a university ranging from hostels to nightclubs and games and sports centers.

The university was used to train the elite members of the Portuguese administration. It also played an important role in the institutionalization of architectural development of Universities in the various p\Portuguese colonies around the world.

The university has several key buildings that were built between the 16th and 17th century. They are listed below:

  • Royal Palace of Alcáçova
  • St Michael’s Chapel
  • The Joanine Library
  • The Colleges of Jesus, Holy Trinity, St. Jerome, St. Benedict, St. Anthony of the Quarry and St. Rita
  • The colleges along Sofia Street - These include; St Michael (old Royal College of the Arts), Holy Spirit, Our Lady of  Carmel, Our Lady of Grace, St Peter of the Third Order, St. Thomas, New St Augustine, and St Bonaventure
  • The Chemistry and other laboratories
  • Botanical Garden and the University Press
  • The large ‘University City’ that was created during the 1940s

The University was listed into the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2013. It sits on 36 hectares of land and has been given a buffer zone of 82 hectares. There is probably no other University in Portugal that have exerted influence over the education landscape than the Coimbra University. The old town of Coimbra is the kind of place you find university lecturers and students having fun in a nightclub and the next morning you find the same people in a class discussing complex scientific concepts with no signs of hangover. Trust me; you will have a lot of fun in this city.