Trip to Spain and Portugal- Porto, Portugal (19)

 Porto is the second-largest city in Portugal and is located in the northwestern part of the country. The city is situated on the Douro River and is known for its historic center, which was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. Porto is also famous for being the birthplace of Port wine, a sweet fortified wine that is produced exclusively in the Douro Valley.

The city has a long and rich history dating back to the Roman era, but it was during the Middle Ages that Porto became an important commercial center due to its location on the Douro River. During this time, the city was fortified and many of its historic buildings were constructed, including the Porto Cathedral and the São Bento Railway Station.

Today, Porto is a vibrant city with a mix of old and new architecture, charming narrow streets, and a lively food and wine scene. It's a popular tourist destination and is often included in itineraries for visitors to Portugal.

Upon arriving Porto, we immediately walked across the Dom Luis I Bridge to watch the sunset.  Here are couple of photos of the city from the bridge at sunset hour.

Trip to Spain and Portugal- Pedro dos Leitoes restaurante

On our journey to Porto, we made a stop at Pedro dos Leitoes restaurant to indulge in a local specialty: piglet. As we arrived, we were pleased to see that the restaurant was bustling with customers. We ordered the roast piglet, which paired perfectly with the sparkling wine. It was a delicious culinary experience that we won't soon forget

Trip to Spain and Portugal - Coimbra (continue) - University of Coimbra

The University of Coimbra is one of the oldest universities in Europe, founded in 1290, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its current building dates back to 1554 and is one of the most attractive sites in Coimbra. Tourists can purchase tickets to visit many parts of the university, and here are some photos from our visit                                                          

Campus

Its library which is recognized as one of the world's finest filled with 40,000 books and is accessed through a room that was the academic prison from 1773 and 1834.  Only small part of the library is allowed photography.  Here are few of them:

Below part are not allowed photograph.  They are from web

                                                                   

The Chapel

                       

The former science lab is now the Science Museum

The university is set on a top of hill.  One of the buildings have great view of the city

Trip to Spain and Portugal _Coimbra (continued)

                      Here are some photos taken wile walking around the city that showcase this romantic city

Trip to Spain and Portugal- Coimbra, Portugal (18)

Arriving in Coimbra during the golden hours, we were greeted by beautiful streets filled with people walking, dining, and shopping. The cityscape was particularly scenic near the bridge, with water fountains in the middle of the water adding to the picturesque atmosphere