"Coimbra - A city to discover" a Coimbra Travel Page by salinhopt

Birthplace of six kings and the seat of Portugal's first university, reputedly the second-oldest in the world, Coimbra's tradition runs deep, with black-caped students swarming the town during term time. Occupied by the Moors, the city was captured by the Christians in 1064, becoming the capital of the country under the first Portuguese dynasty. The capital was transferred to Lisbon in the 13th century. After 1567 it was one of three seats (with Lisbon and Évora) of the Inquisition in Portugal, who were particularly active here in the 1620s.

The city nowadays is quite degraded. I found many of the main buildings in bad state of conservation. It was sad to see that the 3rd biggest city in Portugal was abandoned this way. Coimbra deserves more from Portuguese government. Any way it's always worth to visit Coimbra.