Fatima and Coimbra Tour from Lisbon do you think it is impossible to visit Fatima and Coimbra leaving and returning to Lisbon? Yes its possible, on our Fatima and Coimbra Tour, come to know the largest Marian Shrine in Europe, as well as the Joanina library considered one of the most beautiful in the World.
Hotel / Apartment, Lisbon
8:30 AM
The Fatima Shrine, or Shrine Lady Mary of the Rosary of Fatima, is a Marian shrine dedicated to Our Lady located in Cova da Iria, in the city of Fatima, in Portugal.
By excellence, a place of pilgrimage, preserving the memory of the events that led to its founding, the apparitions of Our Lady to the three shepherds in 1917, one of the most important Marian shrines in the world belonging to the Catholic Church and the largest international destination for religious tourism, receiving around six million visitors a year.
Fatima and Coimbra Tour from Lisbon
In Mealhada very close to Coimbra region we can find the “Leitao a Bairrada” a roasted Piglet one of the best known and appreciated regional dishes of the this region in Portugal, this can be a good option for Lunch.
The Coimbra University was founded in 1290 by King D. Dinis in Lisbon, then in 1437 moved to Coimbra, by order of D. João III in 1437, during centuries it was the only university in the Portuguese empire, and so it is not surprising that many famous people studied in Coimbra, from writers to famous scientists.
Our Fatima and Coimbra Tour from Lisbon starts by leaving Lisbon early in the morning in a ride through the portuguese countryside, we will arrive at the Sanctuary of Fatima.
There he will find three places of interest, you can attend a mass and then visit, the Chapel of the Apparitions, the first Chapel to be built immediately following the apparitions occupying a prominent place, not by size or grandeur, but yes by the location, practically in the center of the Sanctuary.
In one extreme we have the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, begun to be built in 1928 in Neo Baroque style, it houses today the tombs of the children, but also the tomb of Sister Lucia who passed away in 2005, at the other end we have the Basilica of Santissima Trindade, built in 2007 with more than 8000 seats and 40,000 m² of area was designed by the Greek architect Alexandros Tombazis, a modern and quite imposing church.
In Coimbra we will find “Leitao da Bairrada” (suckling piglet) in Mealhada district ) where you can taste one of the Portuguese most famous dishes a piglet roasted in a wood oven for over two hours, leaving the skin completely stalled.
The “Paço das Escolas” is the architectural complex composed of several buildings, whose history dates back to the founding of Portugal. Before the University of Coimbra operated here, it was the first Royal Palace of Portugal, where many of the Kings of the first dynasty were born.
From the reign of D. Dinis the Palace began to be progressively abandoned until the sixteenth century, where it would be extensively renovated, housing the University of Coimbra.
When visiting the University of Coimbra, the Joanina Library is obligatory, founded in the 18th century, it has a distinctively baroque style, being one of the most spectacular in the World.
With three floors, it is the top floor that surprises and the one that is worth the visit, constructed in wood to better preserve the literary collection, the chinoiserie decoration has Asian influence.
The center of Coimbra a pedestrian way, today a pretty place to walk where you can find small local shops and international shops, we can also find the “tunas” groups of students’ singing Fado, street performers and much more.
In this street we will also find the Church of Santa Cruz where Dom Afonso Henriques the first King of Portugal is buried.
We did the airport-hotel-airport transfers and the dinner tours of Fados and Coimbra and Tomar with the Walkborder and we love everything! Hugo was very kind and attentive in the pre and post sale and the guide Rodrigo was very friendly and timely. The tours are all private and can be customized. When I return to Portugal I will certainly contact them again. I recommend everyone who wants to get to know this beautiful country!
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