We left Quinta do Cachao today and headed out on the three-hour drive to Coimbra, Portugal’s first capital and home to Universidade de Coimbra, founded in 1290 in Lisbon and moved to Coimbra in the 1500s. It’s one of the oldest universities in continuous operation in the world. We arrived in time for the last day of the Festa das Latas, a homecoming of sorts where freshmen dress in costumes, parade to the Mondego river, and get baptized into the academic community. The last day is the baptism and a huge party, right across the river from us.
We had a late tapas lunch and then began wandering around the old city, the site of our apartment. The university is beautiful, and there are several impressive cathedrals and old government buildings within easy walking distance. Easy, except for the extreme steepness of the narrow cobblestone streets. Coimbra was once heavily fortified by a wall, and the old city was behind it.
Full day of exploring tomorrow. Here are a few photos from this afternoon.
