Tourist attractions Penela

This villa was the property of a certain Rufus and dates from the mid-2C. Its room layout is clearly discernible from the column bases and flooring, much of which incorporates splendid mosaics. Around its central areas were sleeping quarters and rece..

The old university occupies the buildings of the former royal palace that were restored and appointed to become the "Paço dos Estudos" in 1540. It has a superb library containing 30 000 books and 5 000 manuscripts referenced by subject...

Built by Juan V in 1724, and composed of three huge rooms, with furniture in rare woods and sumptuous giltwood Baroque decoration. Chinoiserie mtifs are painted onto the surfaces, the colour different for each room: green, red or gold. The trompe-l’œ..

This museum occupying the former Episcopal palace (modified in the 16C) is named after the sculptor Machado de Castro, who was born in Coimbra in 1731. The Renaissance porch opens onto a patio-courtyard, and on the west side, a loggia by Philippe Ter..

King Afonso Henriques decided to build this former cathedral at a time when Coimbra was situated on the border between the Christian and Muslim world. This explains its fortress-like appearance, crowned with merlons. This, Portugal's first cathedral,..

Sited on a triangular spur defined by two steep-sided rocky valleys, the Roman site of Conímbriga with its well-preserved mosaics is among the finest in the Iberian peninsula. Especially worthy of note is the House of Cantaber (the owner’s name), o..

Crests and wooded hillocks where the bare rock has a violet hue, form the landscape on this mountain whose highest point is 1,202m.In the low schist houses, the inhabitants lived on poor terraced crops (rye and maize) and sheep and goat farms. The sy..

A very attractive view looking down over the valley of the Arouce, at the bottom of which stands a small medieval castle and tiny white chapels. The high village of Casal Novo is surrounded by cultivated terraces. Further on you will see Lousã an..

From this belvedere , there is a lovely view over Coimbra.

This church, where the remains of Inés Castro rested before being transferred to Alcobaça, has been gradually reduced to a state of ruin by the Mondego sands. Recent excavations have found foundations of its cloister, nave and chancel.

The Baroque church of this vast convent accommodates the 17C silver tomb of Queen Isabel. You will notice a statue of the Queen by Teixeira Lopes. Behind the railings you can also see the Queen's early tomb, which was made of Ança stone in the 14C, b..

This floral, wooded park, situated near the botanical garden, is a nice place for a walk. It offers views over the Mondego Valley.

Children's houses of Portugal - a collection of miniaturised copies of traditional monuments and buildings from Portugal and its former overseas colonies (Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Goa, Macao, etc.). One of the houses has been converted into a chi..

This outdoor botanical garden , created in the 18C within the framework of the Pombal reformations, contains a large variety of rare trees.

Preserving its original decor, this is the former house of the surgeon Professor Bissaya-Barreto (1886-1974), Salazar's deputy and friend. It was built in 1925 in the late-Baroque style and is surrounded by statues and azulejos. The interior reflects..

The old town is situated on the hill of the Alcaçova. Access to the town is gained via a maze of narrow picturesque streets - some of which are punctuated with aptly named staircases such as Quebra-Costas.

To access this beautiful romantic 18C garden, you need to pass between two towers surmounted by arches, carved with moss and plant designs. A staircase, embellished with benches covered in azulejos, leads to a grotto-shaped fountain decorated with st..

This town's port, which has an Arabic name ( medina in Arabic means town), is surmounted by a tower which is decorated with a Virgin and Child between two coats of arms. This is one of the last relics of the medieval surrounding wall.

The "new cathedral", built from 1598, was part of the college of Jesuits of the "Eleven Thousand Virgins" until the disappearance of the order in 1759. Its façade has two levels, one on top of the other. Note the four alcoves of t..