Paço das Escolas

Gorgeous square and highly recommend stopping by if you’re in Coimbra. This also used to be a royal palace for the kings of Portugal before the capital was moved to Lisbon. This area is also classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since its significant in the history and formation of Portugal. It’s also cool that it’s a proper part of the university campus.

It is located on the campus grounds of the oldest established University in Portugal. The buildings are well kept and reflect history. It is definitely worth the visit especially th Library

Interesting palace within the University campus. The interiors are of baroque style, architecture and well preserved. The main hall and the view of the outside town is amazing.

Awesome place. Looks like taken from a film. Historical building and great area inside the university. Perfect to see the sunset.
If you're wondering were to go on a date, this is the chosen one

Great viewpoint!
The Capra, "Goat", Tower is 184 steps and it takes about 4 minutes to climb. The steps get a bit tighter at the end but it's definitely worth the climb.
It's only €1 to climb if you buy the Library tickets, otherwise €2.50.
From the top you can see the entire city and its the best viewpoint in the entire city!

Hard to get there but it worth it. Narrow road leads to a small, beautiful village. All houses made of slate. Don't miss it.

Lots to see and do, would love to have had more time to visit! Plan on lots of walking the hills through town!

This is a magic place of (the University of) Coimbra. It's a National Monument of Portugal since 1910 and WorldWide Heritage Monument of UNESCO since 2013.

Many Portuguese kings and queens went here many years ago.

It has the Faculty of Law, the church, the famous library, the cabinets of the University's administration, etc.

(Photos' description) I had the opportunity to be part of the organisation of events in this place. From concerts to operas, and all the feelings are memorable!

A very nice Park with multiple trees and plants. Especially the Bamboo forest was amazing: the sound of the trees singing and cracking in the wind is amazing!

Must do number 1 in Coimbra. All the space of Coimbra's University is exactly what you need to feel the birthing of the history and pride. Gorgeous, unforgettable.

Beautiful to walk around with great views and history. Free to walk into courtyard, but costs to enter the exhibits.

Part of the Palace & Library tour around Coimbra University. Definitely worth the joint ticket as the library is the jewel in the Palace tour crown

The General Studies functioned in the building known as Estudos Velhos, where the current General Library is located, in addition to being distributed in several places, namely in buildings close to the Monastery of Santa Cruz. the faculties of the University of Coimbra, after the definitive installation of the University in this city, in 1537, putting an end to a 14th century intinerancy between Lisbon and Coimbra.
On the left side of the façade is the Colégio de S. Pedro, a Mannerist construction. Its main façade faces the inner courtyard, where the Baroque portal stands out, a work dating from 1713. It is currently undergoing restoration work as it is a UNESCO heritage site.

Oldest university and very beautyfull, dont forget to see that intern church,

Excellent restaurant with great food and wine selections. Located in areas of significant historic values.

A jewel of the Country. If you are visiting Coimbra, you can not miss this unique University.

By signing the "Scientiae thesaurus mirabilis", D. Dinis created the oldest university in the country and one of the oldest in the world. Dating from 1290, the document gives rise to the General Study, which is recognized the same year by Pope Nicholas IV. It starts operating in Lisbon and was finally transferred to Coimbra in 1537, by order of King D. João III, after a period of migration between these two cities. It is in the Royal Palace of Alcáçova, later Paço das Escolas, that all the Faculties of the University of Coimbra are concentrated - Theology, Canons, Laws and Medicine.

Initially confined to the Royal Palace, the University was extended to Coimbra, changing its landscape, making it the university city, enlarged in the twentieth century with the creation of Pole II, dedicated to engineering and technology, and already in this century with a third Pole in the area of ​​health sciences.

Today, the University of Coimbra has eight Faculties (Letters, Law, Medicine, Science and Technology, Pharmacy, Economics, Psychology and Educational Sciences, Sport Sciences and Physical Education) and more than 22,000 students.

To study at the University of Coimbra is to continue the history of the intellectual matrix of the country, which formed the most outstanding personalities of culture, science and national politics.

With an unavoidable historical heritage, the University of Coimbra celebrated its 725 years in 2015. With a unique material and immaterial heritage, fundamental in the history of European and world scientific culture, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013.

Great courtyard of University of Coimbra. Especially beatiful during the Serenata event at the end of the school year.
A must visit

Such a beautiful place. Definitely worth a visit. Go in the afternoon and stay till the sunset. The views are amazing!

Great place to visit. We arrived as the graduation ceremonies were on and it was very busy.
Lots to see and really worth considering going on the guided tours.

This is a amazing Palace, university to look round, fantastic views. They have done such a good job cleaning it up.