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Arising on the site of the Roman settlement of Eminium, Coimbra for a hundred years it was the capital of the Portuguese kingdom. 6 kings were born in Coimbra, here is the tomb of the first monarch of Portugal - Afonso Henriques. Everything here breathes history, everything here - cathedrals and palaces, streets and squares - is part of the great cultural heritage.
One of the oldest universities in Europe is located in Coimbra, which is still operating. Of particular interest are the university library with its rich collection of old books and the museum of religious art, also located within the walls of the university.
Parents with children will be interested in visiting the Portugal in Miniature park, where both children and adults can explore miniature copies of famous buildings in Portugal.
Coimbra got its name from ancient settlement Conimbriga, located one and a half dozen kilometers to the south, but abandoned in the VI century. after the vandal invasion. Conimbriga is the largest and most studied Roman site in Portugal. There is evidence that the Romans were present here as early as the 2nd century BC. BC, and later the city became a place on the Roman road between Lisbon and Braga. In Conimbriga is one of the largest mansions of the Western Roman Empire - the rich villa Casa de Cantaber.
COIMBRA, FATIMA, karst caves
GROUP - TUESDAY (07:00-18:00) -The tour introduces ancient capital Portugal - city Coimbra and its ancient university, and also includes visiting Fatima and exciting journey through karst caves. Travel to Coimbra by train or regular bus, the guide meets in Coimbra at the station. Return to Lisbon with the group by bus. During the tour you will be offered lunch in a traditional restaurant.
For reference:
Fatima- this place in the very center of Portugal is sacred to Christians around the world. It was here, according to legend, that the Blessed Virgin appeared to the world in 1917. On a huge square, which is 2 times larger than St. Peter's Square in Rome, there is a magnificent Basilica of the Holy Virgin, which was built in the neo-baroque style.
Among the many sights of Portugal there are the rarest objects, which include karst cave Grutas da Moeda. The name is translated into Russian as "piggy bank with coins." You will discover amazingly beautiful halls with limestone formations resembling statues and bas-reliefs.
Entrance tickets are paid additionally:
Visit to the Library of the University of Coimbra - 9 euros (optional).
Visiting the Karst caves - 6 euros.Lunch included.
In the XII-XIII centuries Coimbra was the first capital of Portugal. Now the city has about 140 thousand inhabitants, of which every seventh is a student. The University of Coimbra is one of the oldest in Europe and was the only one in Portugal until 1910.
The city is divided into two parts: upper town(it is also called Old), which is surrounded by a fortress wall. It is there that the bulk of architectural and historical monuments are concentrated.
Another part of the settlement, the Lower City, attracts shopping malls, restaurants and entertainment venues for every taste.
The upper and lower cities are connected by the gates of Arcade Almedina and Torre de Anto.
The most famous landmark of Coimbra is the Baroque University. Among the university premises, the most interesting is the Juanina Library, built in 1717-1728. The interiors of the library are decorated in a truly royal way! Each room is decorated in its own color style, wall paintings and ornaments, as well as inlaid furniture made of precious wood. The library's collection of 300,000 volumes contains books from the 16th to the end of the 18th centuries.
Underground riches of Portugal: Piggy bank cave with coins. Among the many attractions of Portugal there are the rarest objects, which include the cave Grutas da Moeda. The name is translated into Russian as “piggy bank with coins.
The legend of Grutasda Moeda cave. locals they tell an old legend about the robbery and murder of a rich man by robbers, which was a common thing in those troubled times. However, at that time the bandits incorrectly chose either the place, or the time, or the object of their criminal trade. Be that as it may, the villains failed to profit: they threw the lifeless body of their victim from the rocks and in a hurry dropped a bag of gold, the coins scattered over the rocks, and the robbers left without prey. Since then deep cave, allegedly strewn with gold, began to be called a "piggy bank with coins."
Finding lucky fox hunters. Surprisingly, the legend of the rich cave has been circulating for a long time, and it was only discovered in 1971. This was done by two fox hunters, who looked into the hole for a darting fox, and found a huge karst void. Out of curiosity, they entered the cave and found it interesting. On the very first day, the hunters discovered an amazingly beautiful hall with limestone formations. They called it the "pastor's room" or "the shepherd's room." For another two months, the newly minted researchers independently paved their way through the dungeon, excavating in narrow places, finding more and more halls with outlandish figures, lime stalactites and stalagmites, lakes and waterfalls. Each new room was more amazing than the previous one.
After two months of hard work, the friends turned to professional geologists for help, who determined what calcite and clay deposits were in the karst cave. We carried out almost hidden illumination, which made it possible to see incredible beauty created by nature itself. Steps were cut down in some places.
Soon a new cave was opened to tourists, taking measures to preserve the untouched natural beauty surrounding rocks and the cave itself. Many halls have been named by visitors: the Crib, the Red Dome, the Parson, Our Lady, the Waterfall, the Imperfect Chapel, the Fountain of Tears, and even the Wedding Cake.
Information for tourists:
. The length of the tourist route is 350 meters
. Max Depth descent - 50 meters
. The air temperature in the cave is an average of 18 degrees throughout the year, as it is warmed and cooled by water oozing from the rocks. Nice to wash on a hot day with cool water from the thermal lake
. In some places, you can clearly see the traces of bygone eras, for example, a petrified chain of dinosaur footprints that walked in those places during the Jurassic period 175 million years ago
. The entrance and exit to the cave are located in different places, so you should be close to the guide
visit Fatima is a blessed place, which is visited every year by more than 5 million Catholics from all over the world.
According to legend, three Portuguese shepherd children - Jacinta and Francisco Marta, as well as their cousin Lucia dos Santos (Abobora) in the period from 1915 to 1917 repeatedly witnessed the appearance of the Virgin Mary. The saint appeared to them as the Angel of Peace. Interestingly, from May to October 1917, her visits were monthly on the 13th. At this time, the Virgin Mary shared revelations with the children, including initiating them into the Three Mysteries. This information was made public much later. Incredibly, the secrets, one way or another, concerned the events taking place around the world. Including the Virgin Mary predicted the coming upheavals in Europe and cardinal changes in Russia. For a long time, adults did not believe the stories of children, considering it to be fiction. But after some time, even the most skeptical among them realized that something magical was going on. In our time, everything that happened in those places is recognized by the Catholic Church as a genuine miracle.
Stops and inspection:
. Walk through the historic center of Coimbra
. Optional visit to the University Library of Quimbra - Joaninha (admission fee - € 9)
. Visiting the Karst Caves (entrance fee: children under 6 years old - free / adults over 7 years old - € 6)
. Visit Fatima: Basilica of St. Virgin Mary
If you are planning a long distance trip, there are a few simple but important things to keep in mind. important rules: - carefully prepare your car for a long journey: check the level of engine oil, coolant, windshield washer fluid, make sure that all lighting and other devices are functioning properly. - Check tire pressure. It is very important that it matches the pressure recommended for your vehicle. - prepare a spare wheel and a tow rope - no one is immune from a wheel puncture or breakage on the track, you should foresee possible troubles and avoid them. - choose roads with high-quality coverage - this will extend the life of your "iron horse" and save your nerves. When preparing for a trip, think through everything to the smallest detail so that the trip leaves pleasant memories, and not a headache.
Portugal does not end with Lisbon, of course, and is not limited exclusively to it. But the capital is not only very beautiful city but also just a great starting point. From here it is convenient to explore the country. And we offer you one of these programs.
Coimbra
The tour starts from the old university campus. It is imbued with the spirit of students, free-thinking and the desire to explore the world. The university was built here back in the 13th century, and since the building itself is located on a hill, it is perfectly visible from the embankment.
We will show you the historical center of the city. It is a series of streets in which it is very easy to get lost. However, thanks to the guide, such a nuisance will not happen to you. Keep in mind that the Coimbra university is not only one of the oldest in Europe, but also one of those that continue to accept students to this day. So his traditions cannot but impress.
However, you will see not only the university, but also Cathedral cities. It is built in the Romanesque style. The monastery of the Augustinian order also became the pride of Coimbra. It is even older than the university, which in itself makes this complex unique. The king of Portugal is also buried here.
Lunch is also waiting for us in the city, after which you will go to explore the Kopilka cave. Associated with her interesting story: the legend says that the robbers found a rich man who was killed, but in the process of dividing the booty they dropped a bag of coins. They scattered, but no one could find them in the cave. As a result, the coins remained forever in the rocks. They say that money is still sometimes found there.
Due to the fact that the local rocks are rich in mineral deposits, they are strikingly colorful. Properly made lighting helped people to see all the splendor of nature and the incredible brightness of different shades. To make it convenient to explore the cave, steps were specially cut through. But in general, the state monitors natural wealth and protects it, so basically nothing has been touched here.
The cave itself is an interesting combination of different halls. Tourists even gave them names according to the associations that certain corners evoke. For example, there is the Imperfect Chapel, the Red Dome, the Waterfall, the Fountain of Tears…
The cave is 350 meters long and 50 meters deep. The stable air temperature throughout the year is kept at 18 degrees Celsius thanks to the water that oozes from the rocks. It is warm and warms the environment. As a result, it will not be too hot inside in winter, but in summer there is a pleasant coolness. Sources for a person are safe, you can safely wash your face from them.
The cave is quite interesting for explorers as well. For example, scientists still find dinosaur footprints here. By the way, entering and exiting a cave is not the same thing. So explore underground natural wealth best with a guide so you don't get lost.
Fatima
The next step in our program. This place became a religious center after children herding animals met the Virgin Mary. She told the children what humanity was waiting for. Since then, believers from all countries have flocked to these lands.
Organizational moments
During a walk around Coimbra, you can visit the library of the university. This pleasure costs 9 euros. For a visit to the cave, anyone over 7 years old will need to pay 6 euros.
Lisbon is an atypical Europe, where grooming and tranquility are intertwined with temperament major port and Spanish traditions. Tours of Lisbon capture the history of the great empire and tales of significant geographical discoveries. There are many entertainment tours here: gastronomic, evening, extreme. Russian-speaking guides will perfectly convey the atmosphere of this amazing place during group or individual walks.
Sightseeing tours
You can explore the city by bus or car. You will see how centuries-old history perfectly coexists with modernity, and ancient castles are emphasized by space lines of avant-garde architecture. Here are just some of the highlights of Lisbon:
- Alfama.
- Old city.
- Viewpoints.
- Se Cathedral.
- Commerce Square.
- Triumphal Arch.
- Baisha.
- Rossio Square.
- Belem.
- Monastery of Jeronimos.
- Empire Square.
- Monument to the Discoverers.
- World map.
The spirit of Lisbon is best understood on walking tour in the Chiado area. Here you can meet housewives talking across the balconies, or enjoy the incomparable fado performed by street musicians. All listed on the site hiking trails and bus schedules. Prices start from 20 euros per person.
There are field trips from Lisbon that will discover medieval Portugal and rural provinces with simple peasant life and magnificent nature in one day. Trips take no more than 8 hours.
Thematic tours
The advantages of such tours lie in the personality of the guide. This is a friendly communication that is not just interesting, but really immerses you in the culture, traditions and hidden life of the city. Embark on the "Soulful Tour of Old Lisbon" which has received a huge number of positive feedback, or other author's excursions in Russian. Check the booking conditions and cost with our managers by phone or online.
