Visit to Coimbra and Mira De Aire Caves, Portugal

29/03/2018

On my return from the Carnival holidays, I had the opportunity to visit the splendid city of Coimbra and the Mira de Aire Caves with Colégio Vasco da Gama. This trip aimed not only to show students how higher education works but also to let them know a little more about our country.

Here I leave the photo report of the trip, I hope you like it!

Grutas de Mira de Aire

Located in the Leiria district, the Mira de Aire Caves are formed by a limestone complex where, over thousands of years, admirable stalactites and stalagmites have been formed.

Despite the discovery and exploration of the caves having begun in 1947, shepherds of that area from the past already knew that there was a different cave in that place. It was said that when passing by the opening with the cattle, the shepherds threw stones into the interior of the cave in an attempt to discover its depth, until one day it was finally explored by a group of locals who made known this incredible network of underground tunnels.

Coimbra City

On the banks of the Mondego, the old city of Coimbra, the birthplace of six Portuguese kings, rises with enormous splendor. Walking through the streets of Coimbra makes us go back in time and remember a little of Portugal's history. Undoubtedly, this is a city to visit for those who want to "feel" this "old" country. More than words here are images.

Portugal dos Pequenitos

Inaugurated in 1940, Portugal dos Pequenitos is a theme park with typical houses and small monuments built on the idealistic perspective of the Estado Novo, in order to educate children. Today, more than a teaching place for children, it is a park that, when visiting, allows us to enrich culturally, gaining a sense of what Portugal would be like according to the ideals of the Portuguese dictatorship at the time.

Quinta das Lágrimas

A setting for tragic love stories like that of Inês de Castro, today Quinta das Lágrimas has a very peaceful and pleasant atmosphere and can be visited by anyone. Some of the main points of interest are Fonte das Lágrimas, the centenary trees that provide excellent photographs, and the magnificent cane field.

Coimbra city

This is the oldest university in Portugal, founded in 1290 by D. Dinis. Here I was lucky enough to visit some laboratories and departments as well as the oldest area of this faculty. It is indeed a great feeling to be in front of a place where many of the people with great influence in Portugal, over the centuries, studied. Here are some photos of the historic part.