Coimbra Municipality

Coordinates: 40°13′31.69″N 8°27′8.24″W / 40.2254694°N 8.4522889°W

Coimbra

Vista of the parish of Santa Clara, showing the Mondego River across from the emblematic University Hill

Flag	Coat of arms

Official name: Concelho de Coimbra

Name origin: coimbra, Portuguese transliteration of the Latin colimbria, for the Roman civitas Aeminium, which means top of the hill

Country

Portugal

Region

Centro

Sub-region

Baixo Mondego

District

Coimbra

Municipality

Coimbra

Civil Parishes

Almalaguês, Almedina, Ameal, Antanhol, Antuzede, Arzila, Assafarge, Botão, Brasfemes, Castelo Viegas, Ceira, Cernache, Eiras, Lamarosa, Ribeira de Frades, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Santo António dos Olivais, São Bartolomeu, São João do Campo

River

Mondego

Center

Santa Cruz

- elevation

19 m (62 ft)

- coordinates

40°13′31.69″N 8°27′8.24″W / 40.2254694°N 8.4522889°W

Highest point

- elevation

489 m (1,604 ft)

Lowest point

Mondego

- elevation

16 m (52 ft)

- coordinates

40°11′49.73″N 8°33′34.37″W / 40.1971472°N 8.5595472°W

Length

26.41 km (16 mi), Northwest-Southeast

Width

20.49 km (13 mi), North-South

Area

319.4 km² (123 sq mi)

Population

143,052 (2011 )

Density

447.88 / km² (1,160 / sq mi)

Settlement

fl. 456

- Municipality

c. 1179

LAU

Concelho/Câmara Municipal

- location

Praça 8 de Maio, Santa Cruz, Coimbra

- elevation

67 m (220 ft)

- coordinates

40°12′40.26″N 8°25′44.96″W / 40.2111833°N 8.4291556°W

President

João Paulo Barbosa de Melo (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM)

Municipal Chair

Manuel Porto (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM)

Timezone

WET (UTC0)

- summer (DST)

WEST (UTC+1)

ISO 3166-2 code

PT-

Postal Zone

3000-300 Coimbra

Area Code & Prefix

(+351) 292 XX XX XX

Demonym

Coimbrense; Conimbricense; Coimbrão

Patron Saint

Rainha Santa Isabel

Municipal Address

Praça 8 de Maio
3000-300 Coimbra

Municipal Holidays

4 July

Location of the municipality of Coimbra in continental Portugal

Wikimedia Commons: Coimbra

Statistics: Instituto Nacional de Estatística^[1]

Website: http://www.cm-coimbra.pt

Geographic detail from CAOP (2010)^[2] produced by Instituto Geográfico Português (IGP)

Coimbra is a municipality in central Portugal, whose core is the city of Coimbra. It is in the district of Coimbra, being the principal centre in the Centro region, the seat of the Baixo Mondego subregion and former capital of Portugal during the Middle Ages. According to the 2011 Census the municipality had a population of 143,052 inhabitants (from which about 100,000 in the city proper), covering an area of 319.4 km², while over 430,000 people live in the Greater Metropolitan Area of Coimbra, comprising 16 municipalities and extending into an area 3,372 km². Apart from Lisbon and Porto, Coimbra is one of the most important urban centres in Portugal playing a central role in the development of the northern-central littoral and interior.

Its history and role is based on its earliest settlement, dating back to the Roman era centre of Aeminium and developing from its role as cultural, educational, religious and administrative centre during the Middle-Ages. From its early settlement on the hilltop overlooking the Mondego River, Coimbra began to evolve its influence and control occupying a central place in the interior of Portugal.

History

The old Sé Cathedral, seat of the bishopric of Aeminium which was moved from the sacked older Roman town of Conímbriga

Refounded in 1314 by Elizabeth of Aragon as a feminine sanctuary of the Order of the Poor Clares in the parish of Santa Clara

Rural life in the peripery and parishes of Coimbra around 1839, seen from the fields of São Martinho do Bispo

Coimbra's toponymy came from its earliest settlement as the civitas Aeminium, a name derived from the early settlement's topography: o meneiu means top of hill in Latin. It fell under the influence, administratively, of the larger Roman villa of Conimbriga (in Condeixa-a-Nova), until the latter was sacked by the Sueves and Visigoths between 569-589 and abandoned.^[3] Although Conimbriga had been administratively important, Aeminium affirmed its position by being situated at the confluence of the north-south traffic that connected the Roman Bracara Augusta (later Braga) and Olisipo (later Lisbon), while its waterway allowed connectivity into the interior and coast. The limestone table on which the settlement grew has a dominant position overlooking the Mondego, circled by fertile lands irrigated by its waters. Vestiges of this early history include the cryptoporticus of the former Roman forum (now part of the Museu Nacional de Machado de Castro).

The move and settlement of the first Christian Bishops of Conimbriga to Aeminium resulted in the name change to Conimbriga, evolving later to Colimbria.^[3] During the Visigothic era (around the 8th century), the County of Coimbra was instituted by King Wittiza; a sub-county of his dominion, it was established as a fief for his son Prince Ardabast (or Sisebuto), with its seat in Emínio(the Visigothic name for Coimbra), which persisted until the Muslim invasion from the south.

The first Muslim campaigns that occupied the Iberian peninsula occurred between 711 and 715, with Coimbra capitulating to Musa bin Nusair in 714. Although it was not a large settlement, Qulumriyah(Arabic: قُلُمْرِيَة‎), in the context of Al-Andalus, was the largest agglomerated centre along the northern Tagus valley, and its principal city boasted a walled enclosure of 10 hectares, supporting between 3000 and 5000 inhabitants. Remnants of this period include the beginnings of the Almedina, Arrabalde and the fortified palace used by the city's governor (which was later converted into the Royal Palace by the early Portuguese monarchs). The Christian Reconquista forced Muslim forces to abandon the region temporarily. Successively the Moors retook the castle in 987-1064 and again in 1116, capturing two castles constructed to protect the territory: in Miranda da Beira (where the garrison was slaughtered) and in Santa Eulália (where the governor rendered his forces rather then facing a similar massacre).^[3]

Kingdom

The reconquest of the territory was attained in 1064 by King Ferdinand I of León and Castile, who appointed Dom Sisnando Davides to reorganize the economy and administer the lands encircling the city. The County of Portucale and the County of Coimbra were later integrated into one dominion under the stewardship of Henry of Burgandy by Alfonso VI of León and Castile in 1096, when Henry married Alfonso's illegitimate daughter Theresa. Henry expanded the frontiers of the County, confronting the Moorish forces, and upon his death (in 1112), Theresa, Countess of Portucale and Coimbra, unified her possessions. There son, Afonso Henriques, who would take-up residence in the ancient seat of the Christian County of Coimbra, sent expeditions to the south and west, consolidating a network of castles that included Leiria, Soure, Rabaçal, Alvorge and Ansião.^[3]

During the 12th century, Afonso Henriques administered an area of fertile lands with river access and protected by a fortified city, whose population exceeded 6000 inhabitants, including magnates, knights and high clergy. The young Infante motivated the construction and reconstruction of his seat, funding the Monastery of Santa Cruz (founded in 1131 by Theotonius), promoted the construction of the Sé Cathedral, reconstructed the original Roman bridge in 1132, recuperated fountains, kilns, roads and stone pavements, as well as renovating the walls of the old city. In order to confirm and reinforce the power of the concelho (municipality) he conceded a formal foral (charter) in 1179.

By the end of the 13th century (or start of the 14th century), there was a distinct consolidation of the aristocratic, political and military city (concentrated in the Almedina) and the merchant, artesnal and labour centres in the Arrabalde, in addition to the old and new Jewish quarters. Meanwhile, on the periphery, the municipality began to grow in various agglomerations, notably around the monasteries and convents that developed in Celas, Santa Clara, Santo António dos Olivais.

The Studium Generale (precursor of the University of Coimbra) was established in Lisbon in 1290, by King Dinis. The University was relocated to Coimbra in 1308, but in 1338 the Afonso IV made the University return to Lisbon. In 1537, the University was definitively installed in Coimbra by King John III, and expanded by 1544 to occupy the Coimbra Royal Palace in the Almedina (in the Alta area of the city). It was eventually acquired by the University in 1597, when construction began to renovate the building to meet the school's requirements.

In the first half of the 19th century Coimbra was invaded by French troops under the command of Andoche Junot and André Masséna during the Peninsular War. A force of 4,000 Portuguese militia led by Nicholas Trant defeated Masséna, recapturing the city on 6 October 1810, while the remaining villages and parishes were decimated. When French forces finally began their retreat, although the city of Coimbra was defended successfully, the parishes in line of the regiments were pillaged, robbed or destroyed. The city recovered in the second half of the century with infrastructure improvements like the construction of the Conchada cemetery, establishment of a telegraph network, providing gas light illumination, the construction of a new prison, a civic railway system, that included a metal railway bridge over the Mondego river and the renovation of the Portela bridge, in addition to the broadening of roads and expansion of the city into the Quinta de Santa Cruz. By 1854, with the expulsion of the religious orders and municipal reforms, the need to reorganize the municipality of Coimbra forced some changes in the existing structure of the administrative divisions. Consequently, documents were sent (on 20 January 1854) to the Ministries of Ecclesiastical Affairs (Portuguese: Ministério dos Negócios Eclesiásticos) and Justice (Portuguese: Ministério de Justiça) urging the identification by the Civil Governor and Archbishop of Coimbra (Manuel Bento Rodrigues) the number of civil parishes to preserve during the municipal reforms, their limits, the political organs to be retained, a local census and other statistics to justify the demarcation of the territory.^[4] A commission of five members, that included João Maria Baptista Callixto, António dos Santos Pereira Jardim, Roque Joaquim Fernandes Thomás, João Correia Ayres de Campos and António Egypcio Quaresma Lopes de Carvalho e Vasconcelos, were appointed to produce a plan to reduce, suppress, demarcate and establishment of parishes in the city of Coimbra and its suburbs.^[4]

At the time of this commission, the municipality of Coimbra included nine parishes: Nossa Senhora da Assunção, Salvador, São Pedro, São Cristóvão, São João de Almedina, São Bartolomeu, São Tiago, São João de Santa Cruz and Santa Justa.^[4] By decree, dated 25 November 1854, the nine parishes were reduced to four then delimited through the deannexation of two new parishes to form: Sé Catedral (402 inhabitants), Sé Velha (452 inhabitants), São Bartolomeu (541 inhabitants), Santa Cruz (729 inhabitants), Santo António dos Olivais (749 inhabitants) and Santa Clara (289 inhabitants).^[4]

Republic

In the 20th century, specifically on 1 January 1911, electrical cars were inaugurated to connect the old quarter with its expanding periphery, that included the residential areas of Celas, Olivais, Penedo da Saudade and Calhabé, all of these located in the civil parish of Santo António dos Olivais. This was only the initiation of the municipality growth. Civil construction projects throughout the region marked the economic activity of the territory, with new areas such as Montes Claros, Arregaça, Cumeada and Calhabé growing in the shadow of the city. Even projects that had been planned at the end of the 19th century gained new initiative, including the expansion of the Santa Cruz neighbourhood (bairro), the demolition of the residencial area of the Alta de Coimbra (1940-50) to expand the University, and construction or expansion of the bairros of Celas, Sete Fontes and Marechal Carmona (now the bairro of Norton de Matos).

During the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s the construction of new roadways permitted connections to the "suburbs" in the civil parishes surrounding the main centre.

Geography

One of the nation's important crossroads, Coimbra was historically at a junction between the Braga and Lisbon, and its river access (the Mondego flows through the municipality) provided a route between the interior communities and the coastal towns (including the seaside city of Figueira da Foz, 40 km east of Coimbra). The historic city of Coimbra is located in centrally within the municipality, connected to Lisbon (197 kilometres) and Porto (116 kilometres) by the IC2, IP3 and A1 motorways.^[5]

The municipality is circled by several of its neighbouring municipalities in the Baixo Mondego region, which include Penacova (in the northeast), Vila Nova de Poiares (to the east), Miranda do Corvo (to the southeast), Condeixa-a-Nova (to the south and southwest), Montemor-o-Velho (to the west), Cantanhede (to the northwest) and Mealhada (in the north and northeast). Just outside the municipality, there are also several picturesque mountain towns such as Lousã and Penacova, while spa towns and villages, such as Luso, Buçaco and Curia are commonplace.

Having ceased to serve as the capital of Portugal since the 13th century, Coimbra has, nevertheless, retained a considerable importance as the centre of the former Beira province, now designated the Centro region. It is considered alongside Braga the most important regional centre in Portugal, outside the Lisbon and Porto Metropolitan Areas metropoles, playing a role as the central place in the whole central region of the country. With a dense urban grid, the municipality is known primarily for the city of Coimbra, itself famous for its monuments, churches, libraries, museums, parks, nightlife, healthcare and shopping facilities. Above all, its cultural life, oriented around the University of Coimbra, has historically attracted the nation's notable writers, artists, academics and aristocracy, securing its reputation as the Lusa-Atenas (Lusitanian Athens).

Ecoregions/Protected areas

The western edge of Coimbra is covered by the Reserva Natural do Paúl de Arzila (Arzila Bog Natural Reserve), which is designated both as a Special Protection Zone (Portuguese: Zona de Protecção Especial) and Special Conservation Zone (Portuguese: Zona Especial de Conservação), coincident with the civil parish of Arzila (sometimes referred to as the Paúl de Arzila or marsh of Arzila).^[6] It is a humid zone that has sheltered migratory birds, and supports other animal and plant species; this has included predominantly avian species, such as the: Eurasian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus), Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), Melodious Warbler (Hippolais polyglotta), Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus), Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus), Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus), and the Savi's Warbler (Locustella luscinioides).^[6] The 482 hectare area, under threat from industrial, residential and agricultural pollution, expansion of aquatic plants and eutrophication, has forced the governmental reorganization of landuse in order to promote models of sustainability, and rural use that does not have an impact on the migratory and aquatic bird populations.^[6]

The municipal government has also promoted the installation and maintenance of various parks, playgrounds, gardens and forests, including the development of the Botanical Garden of the University of Coimbra (considered the fifth oldest in the world), the Mata Nacional do Choupal, the Mata Nacional de Vale de Canas, Jardim da Sereia (also known as Santa Cruz Garden), Penedo da Saudade, Parque Manuel Braga, Parque Verde do Mondego, Choupalinho, and the 19th century Quinta das Lágrimas estate and gardens.

Complimenting these natural spaces is the riverside parks and bathing areas that line the Mondego, including the river beachs of Palheiros do Zorro, in the parish of Torres do Mondego.

Climate

Climate data for Coimbra
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	23.0 (73.4)	25.5 (77.9)	29.5 (85.1)	32.5 (90.5)	35.0 (95.0)	41.6 (106.9)	40.2 (104.4)	40.0 (104.0)	40.0 (104.0)	34.6 (94.3)	27.6 (81.7)	25.2 (77.4)	41.6 (106.9)
Average high °C (°F)	14.6 (58.3)	15.9 (60.6)	18.3 (64.9)	19.3 (66.7)	21.6 (70.9)	25.3 (77.5)	28.1 (82.6)	28.5 (83.3)	26.9 (80.4)	22.4 (72.3)	18.0 (64.4)	15.4 (59.7)	21.2
Daily mean °C (°F)	9.6 (49.3)	10.9 (51.6)	12.6 (54.7)	13.85 (56.93)	16.2 (61.2)	19.4 (66.9)	21.55 (70.79)	21.45 (70.61)	20.15 (68.27)	16.65 (61.97)	12.85 (55.13)	10.85 (51.53)	15.5
Average low °C (°F)	4.6 (40.3)	5.9 (42.6)	6.9 (44.4)	8.4 (47.1)	10.8 (51.4)	13.5 (56.3)	15.0 (59.0)	14.4 (57.9)	13.4 (56.1)	10.9 (51.6)	7.7 (45.9)	6.3 (43.3)	9.8
Record low °C (°F)	−4.9 (23.2)	−4 (24.8)	−3.3 (26.1)	−1.5 (29.3)	2.0 (35.6)	4.1 (39.4)	6.8 (44.2)	6.0 (42.8)	2.0 (35.6)	−2.6 (27.3)	−3.1 (26.4)	−2.8 (27.0)	−4.9 (23.2)
Precipitation mm (inches)	112.2 (4.417)	105.6 (4.157)	65.5 (2.579)	84.8 (3.339)	79.5 (3.13)	39.8 (1.567)	12.8 (0.504)	14.4 (0.567)	51.7 (2.035)	102.6 (4.039)	109.4 (4.307)	126.8 (4.992)	905.1 (35.634)
Source: Instituto de Meteorologia (1971-2000 climatology) ^[7]

Human geography

Twin towns — Sister cities

The familiar urban landscape of the Baixa (Downtown), showing the distinctive hill of the Almendina and Sé Novathat became University hill, seen from the Santo António dos Olivais

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Portugal

Coimbra is twinned with:

Aix-en-Provence, France (ratified in 1982/1985)^[15]^[16]^[17]
Beira, Sofala, Mozambique (ratified in 1997)^[17]
Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States (ratified in 1983-1984)^[18]^[19]^[17]
Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil (ratified in 1977/1995)^[17]
Daman, Daman and Diu, India (ratified in 2003-2004)^[17]
Dili, Dili, East Timor (ratified in 2002)^[17]
Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg, Luxembourg (ratified in 2004-2005)^[17]
Fes, Fès-Boulemane, Morocco (ratified in 1988)^[17]
Halle, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany (ratified in 1975-1976)^[17]
Island of Mozambique, Nampula, Mozambique (ratified 2003)^[17]
Lund, Skåne, Sweden (ratified in 2004)^[17]
Mindelo, São Vicente, Cape Verde (ratified in 1994-1995)^[17]
Padua, Veneto Italy (ratified in 1998/2000)^[17]
Poitiers, Vienne, France (ratified in 1979)^[17]
Salamanca, Castile and León, Spain (ratified in 1980-1981)^[17]
Santa Clara, California, United States (ratified in 1971-1972)^[17]
Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain (ratified in 1994)^[17]
Santos, São Paulo, Brazil (ratified in 1981)^[17]
São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (ratified in 1997)^[20]^[21]
Taipa, Macao, China (ratified in 1998)^[17]
Yaroslavl, Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia (ratified in 1984)^[17]
Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain (ratified in 2004-2005)^[17]^[22]

Economy

Of the companies who have their headquarters in the municipality, the majority are involved in retail and commerce, complimented by construction, manufacturing and real estate, while the majority of workers are employed in tertiary industries/businesses. There is a move by municipal authorities to bring in more innovation and high-technology businesses, through initiatives such as the Coimbra Innovation Park (constructed beginning in 2008), with the objective of promoting innovation and companies that promote reseach and development (such as nanotechnology company Innovnano, a subsidary of Companhia União Fabril).^[23]

In agriculture, the majority of these workers are self-employed and involved in the cultivation of cereals (grain), temporary pasture-lands, forage crops and vineyards, but also includes the cultivation of legumes, potato, flowers and ornamental plants, citrus plants, subtropical and fresh fruit, in addition to olives.

Ostensibly, visitors are attracted to municipality of Coimbra for its touristic landscape, including the popular and religious festivals; the landscapes; and the monuments, historical places and architecture of the region. Most travelers stay in Coimbra 1.5 days, usually staying at many of the hotels, residences or hospices (although capacity is between 41.8-47.4% in the parishes and from 79.8% in the city).

Transportation

A Caetano/EFACEC trolleybus in Coimbra, 2006.

Although dominated by the A1 motorway (connecting Coimbra to Lisbon and Porto), the municipality is also connected by a series of roads and public services that unifies the regional communities. It is served by the SMTUC Serviços Municipalizados de Transportes Urbanos de Coimbra (Portuguese: Municipal Urban Transport Services of Coimbra), which includes not only the Coimbra trolleybus system and tram network that connect the old city, but also bus services into the municipality (it is a interregional bus service hub for Centro region).

Throughout Coimbra there are rail stations that connect the principal parishes of the municipality (Coimbra-B) with Porto and Lisbon, while a small spur links to the main station (Coimbra-A). A regional line (the Linha da Lousºa) also runs from Coimbra Park (at the south edge of the city centre) to Miranda do Corvo, Lousã, Serpins and others, including links to Figueira da Foz (Ramal de Alfarelos), Guarda and Vilar Formoso (Linha da Beira Alta).

The banks of the Mondego River are linked by several bridges, including prominently the Ponte do Açude, the Ponte de Santa Clara (which is the oldest) and the Ponte Rainha Santa (also known as Ponte Europa), while the more recent Ponte Pedonal de Pedro e Inês is the modernist pedestrian bridge that connects both banks.

A regional airfield is located on a hilltop overlooking the parishs of Cernache and Antanhol, some 7.5 kilometres southwest of the city centre. The Aeródromo Municipal Bissaya Barreto (CBP) [PCO], has a 920 metre runway, with Flight Information Services until the sunset and facilities for private flights.

Architecture

The central body and tower of the University of Coimbra in the civil parish of Sé Nova.

The Monsatry of Santa Clara-a-Nova across the Mondego River, in the civil parish of Santa Clara.

The Church of São Tiago within the Praça 8 de Maio, in the civil parish of São Bartolomeu.

The Church of Santo António dos Olivais, in the parish of the same name.

Civic

Forest/Moorish City of Antanhol (Portuguese: Cidade Da Mata do Antanhol), Antanhol
Palace of Sub-Ripas (Portuguese: Paço de Sub-Ripas), Almedina
São Sebastião Aqueduct/Garden Arches (Portuguese: Aqueducto de São Sebastião), Sé Nova
University of Coimbra (Portuguese: Paços da Universidade de Coimbra), Sé Nova

Military

Arch and Tower of the Almedina (Portuguese: Arco e Torre da Almedina), Almedina

Religious

Cathedral (Nova) of Coimbra (Portuguese: Sé Nova de Coimbra), Sé Nova
Cathedral (Velha) of Coimbra (Portuguese: Sé Velha de Coimbra), Almedina
Chapel of the Treasurer (Portuguese: Capela do Tesoureiro), Sé Nova
Church and Convent of São Marcos (Portuguese: Igreja e Convento de São Marcos), São Silvestre
Church of Nossa Senhora da Graça (Portuguese: Igreja da Nossa Senhora da Graça), Santa Cruz
Church of São Domingos (Portuguese: Igreja de São Domingos), Santa Cruz
Church of São Salvador (Portuguese: Igreja de São Salvador), Sé Nova
Church of São Tiago (Portuguese: Igreja de São Tiago), São Bartolomeu
College of São Agostinho (Portuguese: Misericórdia de Coimbra/Colégio de São Agostinho), Sé Nova
College of São Jerónimo (Portuguese: Colégio de São Jerónimo), Sé Nova
College of São Tomas (Portuguese: Portas do Colégio de São Tomas), Sé Nova
Cross of São Marcos (Portuguese: Cruzeiro de São Marcos), São Silvestre
Episcopal Palace of Coimbra (Portuguese: Paço Episcopal de Coimbra), Sé Nova
Manga Cloister (Portuguese: Claustro de Manga), Santa Cruz
Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova (Portuguese: Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Nova), Santa Clara
Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha (Portuguese: Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Velha), Santa Clara
Monastery of Santa Cruz (Portuguese: Mosteiro de Santa Cruz), Santa Cruz
Monastery of Santa Maria de Celas (Portuguese: Mosteiro de Santa Maria de Celas), Santo António de Olivais
Monastery of São João das Donas (Portuguese: Mosteiro de São João das Donas), Santa Cruz
(Former) Church of Carmo (Portuguese: Igreja do Carmo), Santa Cruz
(Former) Portico of the Church of Santa Ana (Portuguese: Portais da Extinta Igreja de Santa Ana), Sé Nova

Education

Main articles: Education in Coimbra and University of Coimbra

Coimbra has been called A cidade dos estudantes (the city of the students) or, alternately, the Portuguese Athens (Portuguese: Lusa-Atenas), because of its long, storied-relationship with the University of Coimbra (the oldest and largest public university in Portugal, whose origins can be traced back to the 13th century). Similarly, it is the home to the oldest students' union, theAssociação Académica de Coimbra (Academic Association of Coimbra), established in 1887. Many of the students select Coimbra owing to the variety of degrees offered in different fields, the student-friendly environment of the municipality, and the prestige associated with Coimbra's ancient academic history.

Other prominent public-sector institutions include the Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra (a polytechnic institute) and the Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Coimbra (a nursing school), while several private institutions, such as the Instituto Superior Miguel Torga, the Instituto Superior Bissaya Barreto, the Escola Universitária Vasco da Gama and the Escola Universitária das Artes de Coimbra, provide complimentary services, in addition to the Escola de Hotelaria e Turismo de Coimbra (Coimbra Hotel and Tourism School). The city has also a large number of public and private basic and secondary schools, among these some of the best-ranked in the country, like Escola Secundária Infanta D. Maria (public), Escola Secundária José Falcão (public), "Escola EB2/3 Martim de Freitas" (public) and Colégio Rainha Santa Isabel (private), as well as several kindergartens and nurseries.

Culture

Coimbra celebrates is municipal holiday on 4 July, in honour of Elizabeth of Aragon (spouse of the King Denis); a quasi-religious/civic celebration that celebrated the life of the former Queen, that includes a fireworks display following the night-time march of the penitents.

The Fado de Coimbra is a highly stylized genre of fado music originated in Coimbra. Among its most notable and historical adherents are guitarist Carlos Paredes and singer Zeca Afonso, while the Orfeon Académico de Coimbra (the oldest and most famous academic choir in Portugal) and the Associação Académica de Coimbra are important organizations that promote the culture and stylings of this sub-genra of music. In addition, Coimbra has a contemporary music, boasting several live music venues, and some of the most popular clubs and music festivals in Portugal. Moreover, theConservatório de Música de Coimbra, musical departments of the Associação Académica de Coimbra and the music programmes of the Faculty of Letters are noted by many of top music schools in the country.

Coimbra is also known for its university students' festivals, that include the Festa das Latas ("Festival of the Tin Cans"), a homecoming parade at the beginning of the academic year, and the traditional second-semester eight-day-long Queima das Fitas ("The Burning of the Ribbons"), which are open to the entire community and attract national and international tourists.

As the third-largest regional media market in Portugal, the Portuguese public radio and television broadcaster RTP has regional offices and studios in Coimbra, while theDiário de Coimbra and the Diário As Beiras are the two major newspapers based in Coimbra.

Sport

Coimbra is home to Associação Académica de Coimbra (known simply as Académica), an autonomous professional football team of the University of Coimbra students' union, founded in 1872. Obtaining its autonomy in the 1980s, Académica plays in the Portuguese Liga from the local Estádio Cidade de Coimbra stadium, while the multisports clubs of Coimbra's students' union Associação Académica de Coimbra, provides training and competition in an wide array of sports such as rugby, volleyball, handball, rink hockey, basketball, baseball, tennis, swimming and rowing, among many others.

In addition to the 30,000-seat Estádio Cidade de Coimbra (which was a site of 2004 European Football Championship), the municipality of Coimbra boasts several sports venues, including the municipal olympic-size swimming pool complex, the multiuse sports complex (Portuguese: Pavilhão Multiusos de Coimbra), the Estádio Municipal Sérgio Conceição and the Estádio Universitário de Coimbra(the University's extensive sports complex located on Mondego's left bank). In addition, the Pavilhão Jorge Anjinho sports arena (home of Académica), Pavilhão dos Olivais, and Pavilhão do C.F. União de Coimbra, are other places where some of the most important indoor sports clashes involving teams of Coimbra are played. This includes the Clube de Futebol União de Coimbra (simply União Coimbra), another sports with a long history of playing football in the region, today in the Portuguese Second Division.

Notable citizens

Portugal's first monarch, Afonso Henriques, was buried in the Monastery of Santa Cruz

Carlos Seixas prominent composer, musician and teacher

Pedro Passos Coelho politician and Prime Minister of Portugal

The following people were born or died within the municipality of Coimbra:

Afonso Henriques (c. 1109; Guimarães/Viseu – 6 December 1185; Sé Nova, first Portuguese monarch, whose established his residence in the seat of County of Coimbra, he was buried in the Monastery of Santa Cruz;
Sancho I (11 November 1154;Sé Nova - 26 March 1212Sé Nova), second king of Portugal, oldest son of Afonso Henriques, responsible for ending Galicia border disputes, and shifting the kingdom's growth to the south, capturing Moorish lands and enlarging Portuguese territory;
Afonso II (23 April 1185;Sé Nova - 25 March 1223;Sé Nova), third Portuguese monarch, was able to maintain the peace created by the military gains of his father, and grandfather, enhancing his relationship with the Catholic Church;
Sancho II (8 September 1209; Sé Nova- 4 January 1248; Toledo, Spain), the Pious was forced off the thrown by an alliance of nobles who, although grateful for their monarch's Reconquista of Moorish lands, did not appreciate his poor administration of the country. His brother Afonso marched into Portugal, with the support of the Catholic Church, and exiled him to Toledo;
Afonso III (5 May 1210; Sé Nova – 16 February 1279) , unlike his brother, Afonso paid particular attention to the administration of his Kingdom (stylized Kingdom of Portugal and the Algarves), holding the first Portuguese Cortes that reunited the administration, nobility, merchants and landowners, but his taxing of the Church resulted in his ex-communication, likely bringing on his early death, and the ascendency of his son Denis;
Pedro I (19 April 1320; Sé Nova – 18 January 1367; Alcobaça), the Just was creditted with a peaceful reign, following the supposed death of his lover Inês de Castro at the hands of his father's men;
Francisco Álvares ( c. 1465; Sé Nova - c.1541; Rome), a missionary, explorer and diplomat who traveled to Ethiopia, joining Pêro da Covilhã, before returning to Lisbon in 1526-1527, writing the Verdadeira Informação das Terras do Preste João das Indias (A True Relation of the Lands of Prester John of the Indies);
Francisco de Sá de Miranda (28 August 1481; Sé Nova – 17 May 1558; Amares), a Renaissance poet, who studied Greek, Latin and Philosophy at the University (when it was in Lisbon), but who travelled abroad meeting classical writers in Spain and Italy, before being received in the court of John III of Portugal between 1526-1527;
Pedro Nunes (c. 1502; Alcácer do Sal – 11 August 1578; Sé Nova), a 16th century mathematician and cosmographer responsible for contributions to navigation during the Age of Discovery;
Mem de Sá (c. 1500; Sé Nova – 2 March 1572; Salvador, Brazil ), third Governor-General of Brazil, responsible for the pacification of the indigenous population, and the expulsion of the French from Rio de Janeiro, by convincing the Tamoyo Confederation to withdraw their support;
Joaquim Machado de Castro (19 June 1731 – 17 November 1822; Lisbon), an 18th century sculptor, notable for his equestrian statue of Joseph I of Portugal, with detailed analysis and diagrams, now occupying the centre of the Praça do Comércio;
Carlos Seixas (11 June 1704 – 25 August 1742; Lisbon), prominent composer, musician and teacher;
João Maria Correia Ayres de Campos, 1st Count of Ameal (5 February 1847–13 July 1920, a politician, art collector and humanist, responsible for assembling one of Portugal's largest and most important private art collections;
Mário Simões Dias (2 July 1903 – 8 July 1974; Lourenço Marques, Mozambique), a violinist, musicologist and lecturer, who co-founded the Academia de CoimbraandInstituto de Música, before hosting a classical music program on the national radio, and later in Mozambique;
Lúcia dos Santos (28 March 1907; Aljustrel – 13 February 2005; Sé Nova), one of the three visionary children of Fátima, who came to live at the CarmeliteConvent of Santa Teresa;
Adolfo Correia da Rocha (12 August 1907; São Martinho de Anta – 17 January 1995), a medical doctor, later poet, short story essayist, theatre writer and composer of a 16-volume diary, receiving along his career the Montaigne Prize (in 1981), the first Prémio Camões (in 1989) and nominations for the Nobel prize for Literature;
Álvaro Barreirinhas Cunhal (10 November 1913; Coimbra — 13 June 2005; Lisbon), politician and pro-Soviet leader of the Portuguese Communist Party
Carlos Paredes (16 February 1925 – 23 July 2004), a virtuoso guitar player and composer, known as the "man of a thousand fingers";
Carlos Mota Pinto (25 July 1936; Pombal – 7 May 1985), a professor and politician, interim Prime Minister of Portugal between 1978 and 1979, Vice-President in 1983 and President (1984-1985);
Mário Crespo (13 April 1947 - ), a journalist and reporter;
Alberto Raposo Pidwell Tavares, known as Al Berto (11 January 1948 – June 13, 1997; Lisbon), a poet;
Zita Seabra (25 May 1949; Santa Cruz - ), a politician; a former high-profile member of the Portuguese Communist Party, who renounced and criticized communist ideology, before the fall of Berlin Wall, later to joined the Social Democratic Party;
Pedro Passos Coelho (24 July 1964 - ), a politician, leader of the Social Democratic Party, and Prime Minister of Portugal;
Sérgio Paulo Marceneiro da Conceição (15 November 1974 - ), a international footballer, who played for 10 different teams, representing Portugal in one World Cup and European championship;
José Eduardo Rosa Vale e Castro (13 January 1983 - ), a international footballer, playing for Deportivo de La Coruña of Spain;

References

Notes

^ INE, ed. (2010) (in Portuguese), Censos 2011 - Resultadas Preliminares [2011 Census - Preliminary Results], Lisbon, Portugal: Instituto Nacional de Estatística, http://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_publicacoes&PUBLICACOESpub_boui=122114780&PUBLICACOESmodo=2, retrieved 1 July 2011
^ IGP, ed. (2010) (in Portuguese), Carta Administrativa Oficial de Portugal, Lisbon, Portugal: Instituto Geográfico Português, http://www.igeo.pt/produtos/cadastro/caop/download/Areas_Freg_Mun_Dist_CAOP2010.zip, retrieved 1 July 2011
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d David J.J. Evans (2004), p.221
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d José Manuel Azevedo Silva (2011), p.2-3
^ Luísa Santos (December 2004), p.5
^ ^a ^b ^c (in Portuguese) Plano Sectoral da Rede Natura 2000 (Zonas de Protecção Especial): Paul de Arzila, Lisbon, Portugal: ICNB Instituto de Conservação da Natureza e da Biodiversidade, http://portal.icnb.pt/NR/rdonlyres/08E60D78-DB75-4675-8062-8D7681AFB585/0/ZPE_Paul_Arzila.pdf
^ "Weather Information for Coimbra (Portuguese Meteorological Institute)". http://www.meteo.pt/en/oclima/normais/index.html?page=normais_cbr.xml.
^ Luísa Santos (December 2004), p.4
^ Luísa Santos (December 2004), p.6
^ Luísa Santos (December 2004), p.7
^ Luísa Santos (December 2004), p.8
^ Direcção Municipal de Administração do Território – Câmara Municipal de Coimbra (Coimbra City Hall)(in Portuguese)
^ Luísa Santos (December 2004), p.12-13
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Luísa Santos (December 2004), p.13
^ Association of twinnings and international relations of Aix-en-Provence
^ Mairie of Aix-en-Provence – Twinnings and partnerships
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u Câmara Municipal (2005), p.14-15
^ "A Message from the Peace Commission: Information on Cambridge's Sister Cities," February 15, 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2008.
^ Richard Thompson."Looking to strengthen family ties with 'sister cities'," Boston Globe, October 12, 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2008.
^ Prefeitura.Sp – Descentralized Cooperation
^ International Relations – São Paulo City Hall – Official Sister Cities
^ Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza. Hermanamientos y Protocolos de Colaboración
^ (in Portuguese) Innovnano inaugura nova fábrica em 2011, Grupo José de Mello, http://www.josedemello.pt/gjm_tdf_01.asp?lang=pt&artigo=652

Sources

Santos, Luísa (December 2004) (in Portuguese), Caracterização Sócio- Económica dos Concelhos Concelho de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal: Direcção Geral do Ordenamento do Território e Desenvolvimento Urbano/Direcção de Serviços de Estudos e Planeamento Estratégico/Divisão de Estudos e Planeamento, http://especial.imgs.sapo.pt/multimedia/pdf/local/Coimbra.pdf
Deloitte, ed. (22 December 2006) (in Portuguese), Plano Estratégico de Coimbra: Diagnostic Preliminar, 2, Lisbon, Portugal: Câmara Municipal de Coimbra, http://www.cm-coimbra.pt/dmdocuments/02-Diag.Estrat-VolII.pdf
Câmara Municipal, ed. (2005) (in Portuguese), Relatório de Gestão: Organização Municipal, Coimbra, Portugal: Câmara Municipal de Coimbra, http://www.cm-coimbra.pt/dmdocuments/2_Organizacao_Municipal.pdf
Silva, José Manuel Azevedo (2011), Câmara Municipal, ed. (in Portuguese), A criação da freguesia de Santo António dos Olivais: Visão Histórica e Perspectivas Actuais, Santo António dos Olivias (Coimbra), Portugal: Câmara Municipal de Santo António dos Olivais, http://www.jfsao.pt/documentos/Historia.da.Freguesia.pdf, retrieved 5 September 2011

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