Coimbra Portugal photo essay
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Coimbra has had a long complex history. Celts lived here. And the Romans. So did the Barbarians (those non-Greek-speaking invaders of abroad). Then came the Moors, and later the Spanish. But most guidebooks focus on Coimbra as a university town; tour buses consider it worthy of half a day, disgorging their travel troupes there for just a morning or an afternoon.
Coimbra has had a long complex history. Celts lived here. And the Romans. So did the Barbarians (those non-Greek-speaking invaders of abroad). Then came the Moors, and later the Spanish. But most guidebooks focus on Coimbra as a university town; tour buses consider it worthy of half a day, disgorging their travel troupes there for just a morning or an afternoon. And to be honest, we only spent a day in Coimbra, wandering among its buildings and absorbing its spirit. But when I started analysing my photographs, I realised that it has so many faces. And it struck me: you need to scratch below the surface, get under Coimbra’s skin, in order to fully appreciate it. Yes, there are the churches and monasteries and cathedrals, but there is also a fascinating juxtaposition of ancient and modern, with Roman walls abutting shiny new apartments, or a Baroque façade a few strides away from a Moorish arch. There’s also a Quarrel Tower, and a bridge with tales of royalty and love and murder.
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