Private Guided Visit of Coimbra's Highlights, Lisbon

Discover the medieval city of Coimbra with the help of an insightful guide, who will lead you through the cobblestone streets and historic monuments of Portugal's former capital. Your primary focus will be the University of Coimbra, one of the oldest in the world, whose Baroque library seems to come straight out of a fantasy novel. After exploring the university and learning about its origins dating back to the 13th century, you'll visit other nearby sites, like the azulejo-covered Chapel of St. Michael and the Sé Velha de Coimbra, one of the only Romanesque cathedrals to survive the Reconquista. Between visits to these attractions, you'll walk through the centuries-old streets of the charming Old Town.

This half-day trip will take you through the sites and stories of the medieval city of Coimbra, Portugal's former capital that is home to one of the world's oldest universities. Your private guide will lead you to some of the highlights of Old Town, although the focus will be on the university. Founded in 1290 by King Dinis in Lisbon and relocated to Coimbra in 1537, this majestic campus is one of the world's oldest universities in continuous operation.

You'll walk around the university with your guide, who will point out significant spots and details and will take you to the university library. This Baroque library holds over 200,000 books on its gilded bookshelves, and its ornate wooden floor-to-ceiling bookcases and ceiling frescoes have made it a must-see for travelers worldwide.

After the university, you'll visit the Chapel of St. Michael next door. Built in the 12th century, this chapel's interior is covered with ornate and colorfully painted azulejos. Your guide will take you through the medieval streets of Coimbra's historic center, where you'll get to see the unbroken lines of history that have sustained for hundreds of years.

You'll end the excursion with other highlights, like the 12th-century Sé Velha de Coimbra, which is one of the few Romanesque cathedrals to survive the Reconquista, and the Museu Nacional de Machado de Castro, an art museum with a picturesque courtyard surrounded by arches.