Coimbra by Night: Student Traditions, Fado and the First Capital of Portugal

Coimbra was the capital of Portugal from 1131 until 1255, and the first king, Afonso Henriques, is buried in its Monastery of Santa Cruz. But what makes the city special today is its students.

The university on the hill

The University of Coimbra was founded in 1290 and settled for good in Coimbra in 1537. Its buildings on the hill above the Mondego are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its traditions shape the whole city.

Capes, repúblicas and Queima das Fitas

Students still wear the black academic dress with its long cape. Many live in repúblicas, shared houses with their own rules and history. Every May, the Queima das Fitas festival fills the streets with parades and concerts to celebrate the end of the academic year.

Coimbra fado

Coimbra has its own fado, sung by men in academic dress, often as a serenade on the steps of the old cathedral. Tradition says you show your appreciation by clearing your throat instead of clapping.

See it with a local

Our Coimbra by night tour climbs into the old town, tells the stories of the university and the fado, and visits the student bars of the Alta and the Baixa. More on our Coimbra page.