Official name	Coimbra
Settlement type	City
Image shield	CBR.png
Pushpin map
Pushpin caption	Location in Portugal
Coordinates type	region:PT_type:adm3rd
Coordinates display	yes
Map caption	Location of Coimbra Municipality in Portugal
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name
Subdivision type1	Region
Subdivision name1	Centro
Subdivision type2	Subregion
Subdivision name2	Baixo Mondego
Subdivision type3	District/A.R.
Subdivision name3	Coimbra
Leader party	PSD
Leader title	Mayor
Leader name	Carlos Encarnação
Area total km2	319.4
Population total	137,212
Population density km2	429.6
Blank name sec1	Parishes (no.)
Blank info sec1	31
Blank1 name sec1	Municipal holiday
Blank1 info sec1	Holy Queen IsabelJuly 4
Website	http://www.cm-coimbra.pt/

Coimbra () is a city in the municipality of Coimbra in Portugal. Although it served as the nation's capital during the High Middle Ages, it is better-known for its university, the University of Coimbra, which, established in 1290, is one of the oldest in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the Portuguese-speaking world.

According 2001 Census, provided by the Portuguese Instituto Nacional de Estatística (), the city proper had a population of 101,069 distributed across the core urban parishes of the municipality. The municipality of Coimbra has a "present population" (população presente) of 157,510 inhabitants, and a "usuary population" (população utente) of 200,000. On average, over 43,000 people flow to Coimbra every day to study and work. About 430,000 inhabitants live in its Greater Metropolitan Area, the Grande Área Metropolitana de Coimbra, made of 16 municipalities comprising a 3372 km² territory. Between 1864 and 2001, Coimbra municipality population tripled (Portugal's population doubled during the same period). Between 1991 and 2001 its population increased 6.75% (Portugal's population increased 4.08% in the same period).

Municipalities

The municipality of Coimbra is divided into 31 civil parishes (freguesias), 6 of them are urban municipalities which belong to the city proper:

Almedina (City of Coimbra)

Santa Clara (City of Coimbra)

Santa Cruz (City of Coimbra)

Santo António dos Olivais (City of Coimbra)

São Bartolomeu (City of Coimbra)

Sé Nova (City of Coimbra)

Climate

Economy

The wealth of the city rests mostly on its University of Coimbra with about 20,000 students – the city has a total of 35,000 higher education students considering the other higher education institutions based there – but also in shopping, technology and health sciences industry, administrative offices, financial services, law firms and specialized medical care. The city has many private clinics, medical offices and two large independent state hospital centres: the H.U.C. – Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, which is a university hospital, and the C.H.C. – Centro Hospitalar de Coimbra, which includes a general hospital. Coimbra has also the regional branch of the national cancer hospital – the I.P.O. – Instituto Português de Oncologia, as well as a military hospital. The Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal, the state-run forensic science institute of Portugal, is headquartered in Coimbra.

Notable companies based in the municipality of Coimbra include software companies Critical Software and Ciberbit which have their global headquarters in the city, mechanical and electronics engineering company Active Space Technologies, telemetry and Machine to Machine company ISA, Cimpor's cement factory in Souselas (CIMPOR Souselas), the pan-European service facility of Olympus Corporation, the pharmaceuticals companies Bluepharma and BASI, the iron foundry Fucoli-Somepal and several ceramics, food processing (Probar produces cold meat products and Dan Cake produces sponge cakes and swiss rolls), textiles, wine, civil and engineering construction, architecture, public works and housing construction firms. Handicraft industry is well represented by traditional tapestry and pottery manufacture, and the surroundings of the city have besides forestry, dynamic horticulture production, vineyards and livestock raising. The Instituto Pedro Nunes (Pedro Nunes Institute), a business incubator, dynamically hosts several start-ups which are usually dedicated to technology-related businesses and became independent spin-off companies headquartered across the whole region. The Coimbra Innovation Park is a science and technology park built in 2008, with the objective of promoting innovation and companies that focus on the relationship with R&D; facilities to develop their business.

Coimbra has a fresh produce open-air market on every 7th and 23rd days of the month at Feira dos 7 e dos 23, and a large fresh produce market in downtown at Mercado D. Pedro V. The Baixa (downtown) of Coimbra has many coffeehouses and bakeries, and features several specialty shops selling all kind of products in typical old-fashioned architectural surroundings. Large commercial facilities with car park, include a medium-sized shopping center (CoimbraShopping); two larger shopping centers with hypermarket, restaurants, movie theaters and several shops with a selection of some of Portugal's and the world's most famous and stylish international brands (Centro Comercial Dolce Vita and Forum Coimbra); and two retail parks found on the fringes of the city, offering an alternative to the busy city centre (Retail Park Mondego in Taveiro, and Coimbra Retail Park in Eiras).

Transportation

river.]] The two banks of Mondego river at Coimbra, are linked by three main bridges: the Ponte do Açude; the Ponte de Santa Clara (Santa Clara bridge), which is the oldest, the Ponte Pedonal de Pedro e Inês that is the ultimate bridge being constructed and the unique footbridge in the city and the Ponte Rainha Santa also known as Ponte Europa, finished in 2004.

The city is internally connected by an extensive bus network, the SMTUC (Serviços Municipalizados de Transportes Urbanos de Coimbra, Coimbra Municipality Urban Transport Services) and trolleybuses (the only city in Portugal having them). In the past, the city also had a tram network (some are now parked inside a transportation museum). Taxicabs are also available, and are recognizable as cream or black and green (black car with green rooftop) taxis. The city is a hub for interregional bus services for all the country and abroad. A light-rail metro system, Metro Mondego, is currently being built.

Coimbra has several rail stations. The principal station Coimbra-B is on the main line between Porto and Lisbon. From this, a small spur runs to Coimbra-A, the main station in the city centre. A small regional rail line (Linha da Lousã) also runs from Coimbra Parque at the south edge of the city centre. From Coimbra-Parque is possible to travel to Miranda do Corvo, Lousã and Serpins, among others. Also it is possible to travel by train bweteen Coimbra and Figueira da Foz (Ramal de Alfarelos), and Coimbra, Guarda and Vilar Formoso (Linha da Beira Alta [international]).

Coimbra is served by motorway A1 which connects Lisbon to Porto.

A regional airfield is located in Cernache (Aeródromo Municipal Bissaya Barreto) (CBP) [PCO], 7.5 km SW of the city downtown. With a 920 metre runway and Flight Information Service until the sunset, this regional airport has all the fundamental facilities for private flights.

Education

in the University of Coimbra.]] Coimbra has been called A cidade dos estudantes (The city of the students) or Lusa-Atenas (Lusitan-Athens), mainly because it is the site of the oldest and one of the largest universities in Portugal – the University of Coimbra, a public university whose origins can be traced back to the 13th century. Nowadays, it has students from 70 different nationalities; almost 10% of its students are foreigners, making it Portugal's most international university.

Coimbra is also the place where the oldest and biggest university students' union of Portugal was founded – the Associação Académica de Coimbra (Academic Association of Coimbra), established in 1887.

Besides that, there are also some other schools and institutes of higher education in the city: the Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra, a public polytechnic institute; the Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Coimbra, a public nursing school; and some private higher education institutions such as the Instituto Superior Miguel Torga; the Instituto Superior Bissaya Barreto; the Escola Universitária Vasco da Gama and finally, the Escola Universitária das Artes de Coimbra, an art school.

A large number of higher education students from all of Portugal chose Coimbra's higher learning institutions to study, due to the wide availability of degrees offered in different fields, the student-friendly environment of the city, and the prestige of many of its learning institutions allied to the ancient tradition of Coimbra as the historical capital of higher studies in Portugal.

The city has also a large number of public and private basic and secondary schools, among these some of the best-ranked in the country, like Escola Secundária Infanta D. Maria (public), Escola Secundária José Falcão (public), "Escola EB2/3 Martim de Freitas" (public) and Colégio Rainha Santa Isabel (private), as well as several kindergartens and nurseries. There is also the Coimbra Hotel and Tourism School.

Culture

Coimbra fado

Fado de Coimbra (Coimbra Fado) is a highly stylized genre of fado born in the city of Coimbra. Guitar player Carlos Paredes and singer Zeca Afonso, are among its most renowned and historical figures.

Orfeon Académico de Coimbra, the oldest and most famous academic choir in Portugal, an autonomous organization of the students' union Associação Académica de Coimbra, established in 1880 by a law student of the University of Coimbra (UC), and the fado section of UC's Associação Académica de Coimbra itself, are important organizations in Coimbra fado promotion and preservation.

According to tradition, to applaud fado in Lisbon one would clap his hands, while in Coimbra cough as if clearing the throat is the typical way.

Municipality holiday

Coimbra city holiday is on 4 July. The Coimbra City Festival is in honour of the Queen Elizabeth, wife of the King Denis and patriarch of the city. The religious festivities take place only in the even numbered years, but the city holiday's celebrations take place every year in July. Special attractions include the fireworks display during the nighttime march of the penitents. The devotion accorded to Queen Donna Isabel began soon after her death and in 1516 she was beatified for the Coimbra Diocese under Pope Leo X, then for the whole country by Pope Paul IV in 1556. The canonization process for Holy Queen Isabel was begun by Don Alfonso de Castelo Branco, in 1612. After verification that the corpse remained uncorrupted a crystal and silver urn was placed at the tomb for veneration by the faithful. The canonization ceremony took place in 1625 with Pope Urban VIII presiding and the local population celebrating the event for a week.

Student festivals

Coimbra is also known for its university students' festivals. Two are held every year. The first one, Latada or Festa das Latas ("The Tin Can Parade") is a homecoming parade that occurs at the beginning of the academic year, and is a welcome to the new university students (Caloiros).

The Festa das Latas goes back to the 19th century when the Coimbra students felt the need to express their joy at finishing the school year in as loud a way as possible, using everything at their disposal that would make noise, namely tin cans. The highlight of this festival, which now takes place at the beginning of the academic year (November) is the special parade known as the Latada. After marching through the streets of the city the new students are "baptized" in the Mondego River thus entering into the Coimbra academic fraternity. The 2nd year's students are awarded their Grelos (a small ribbon). The Grelo is a small, woollen ribbon with the color(s) of the student's faculty that is attached to a student's briefcase. Previous to this, at the morning the students must have visited the Dom Pedro V market where they must get a turnip to sustain the Caloiros during the day's festivities. Besides the tin cans they have tied to their legs, the new students wear all kinds of costumes made up according to the creativity and imagination of their godmothers or godfathers who are older students. They also carry placards with ironic criticisms alluding to certain teachers, the educational system, national events and leaders.

The second one, Queima das Fitas ("The Burning of the Ribbons"), takes place at the end of the second semester (usually in the beginning of May) and it is one of the biggest student parties in all Europe. It lasts for 8 days, one for each University of Coimbra's Faculty: Letras (Letters), Direito (Law), Medicina (Medicine), Ciências e Tecnologia (Sciences and Technology), Farmácia (Pharmacy), Economia (Economics), Psicologia e Ciências da Educação (Psychology and Education Sciences) and Ciências do Desporto e Educação Física (Sports Sciences and Physical Education).

Although being University of Coimbra's festivals, other higher education students of Coimbra such as the polytechnic's students or private institution's students, are invited every year by the University of Coimbra students who manage and organise this events, to participate in the Tin Can Parade and also in the Burning of the Ribbons. The academic festivities are opened to the entire city community and attract a large number of national and international tourists as well.

Reportedly, during Queima das Fitas, more beer is drank during one week than Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany.

Music acts

Coimbra has a lively music scene that caters for most tastes with lots of festivals and events beyond the academic festivals and the traditional Coimbra fado genre. It boasts several live music venues, and some of the most popular club nights and music festivals in Portugal. Moreover, the Conservatório de Música de Coimbra, the music-related departments of the Associação Académica de Coimbra and the music programmes of the Faculty of Letters of the University of Coimbra are regularly cited among the top music schools in the country. Modern bands and artists with some degree of recognition in the Portuguese music scene include André Sardet, Bunnyranch, WrayGunn and JP Simões.

Media

The Centro region is the third-largest regional media market in Portugal. The Portuguese public radio and television broadcaster Rádio e Televisão de Portugal has regional offices and studios in Coimbra. The Diário de Coimbra and the Diário As Beiras are the two major newspapers based in Coimbra. The students' union of the University of Coimbra has also notable media like the Rádio Universidade de Coimbra radio station and A Cabra newspaper.

Leisure

Accommodation

There is a wide variety of accommodation available, ranging from the camping-park or one of the many inexpensive hostels to the charming downtown hotels and international chain hotels.

Parks/gardens

Coimbra has many attractive and pleasant green spaces such as parks, playgrounds, gardens and forests. The most famous park in the city is probably the Botanical Garden of the University of Coimbra, the fifth oldest in the world. The city's green areas also include the Mata Nacional do Choupal, the Mata Nacional de Vale de Canas, Jardim da Sereia (also known as Jardim de Santa Cruz), Penedo da Saudade, Parque Manuel Braga, Parque Verde do Mondego and Choupalinho. Quinta das Lágrimas, a 19th century palace and estate, which was transformed into a hotel and golf resort, contains also a large park. Also noteworthy is the Paul de Arzila, a natural reserve occupying an area in Coimbra municipality (in Arzila), and in the neighbouring municipalities of Condeixa-a-Nova and Montemor-o-Velho.

Not far away from the urban center, close to the city itself, and fully set in the municipality of Coimbra, there are plenty of mountain and river landscapes. These include the river beach of Palheiros do Zorro in the parish of Torres do Mondego.

Sport

(Coimbra City Stadium).]] Coimbra is home to Associação Académica de Coimbra - O.A.F. (known simply as Académica), a professional football autonomous organism of the University of Coimbra students' union Associação Académica de Coimbra, founded in 1872 and having its current statute of autonomous football organization since the 1980s. Académica football team plays in the Portuguese Liga at the Estádio Cidade de Coimbra. Clube de Futebol União de Coimbra, another sports club with tradition in the city, owner of a football team which plays in the Portuguese Second Division, is other important club of Coimbra. Coimbra also has one of the largest multisports clubs in Portugal: the University of Coimbra's students' union Associação Académica de Coimbra, includes sections dedicated to a wide array of sports such as rugby, volleyball, handball, rink hockey, basketball, baseball, tennis, swimming, rowing, among many others.

The Estádio Cidade de Coimbra (30,000 seats), which was a site of 2004 European Football Championship and includes olympic swimming pools (Piscinas Municipais), as well as a multiuse sports facility (Pavilhão Multiusos de Coimbra), located both near the stadium; the Estádio Municipal Sérgio Conceição; and the Estádio Universitário de Coimbra, an extensive sports complex of the university on Mondego's left bank, are the main athletics and sports venues in Coimbra. The Pavilhão Jorge Anjinho sports arena (headquarters of Associação Académica de Coimbra - O.A.F.), Pavilhão dos Olivais, and Pavilhão do C.F. União de Coimbra, are other places where some of the most important indoor sports clashes involving teams of Coimbra are played.

Major sports teams based in Coimbra include: {|class=wikitable |- !style="width:150px;"|Team ! style="width:60px;"|Sport ! style="width:150px;"| League ! style="width:150px;"| Venue |- ||Associação Académica de Coimbra - O.A.F. |Football |Portuguese Liga |Estádio Cidade de Coimbra |- ||Associação Académica de Coimbra - Secção de Basquetebol |Basketball |Portuguese Basketball League (LCB) |Pavilhão Multiusos de Coimbra |- ||Associação Académica de Coimbra - Secção de Rugby |Rugby |Campeonato Nacional Honra/Super Bock |Estádio Universitário de Coimbra |- ||Associação Académica de Coimbra - Secção de Voleibol |Volleyball |Portuguese Volleyball League A1 |Estádio Universitário de Coimbra |- ||C.F. União de Coimbra |Football |Portuguese Third Division |Estádio Sérgio Conceição |- ||Agrária |Rugby |Campeonato Nacional de Rugby I Divisão |Campo da Escola Agrária |}

Famous people

is buried in Coimbra.]] is linked to Coimbra.]] ' portrait - the composer was born and raised in Coimbra.]]

Afonso Henriques, first king of Portugal. He is buried at the Santa Cruz Monastery in Coimbra.

Sancho I, second king of Portugal, son of Afonso Henriques. He is buried at the Santa Cruz Monastery in Coimbra.

Elizabeth of Portugal (Holy Queen Isabel), wife of King Denis I. She was buried at the Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha.

Pedro I, king of Portugal.

José de Anchieta, Spanish Jesuit, humanist and writer.

Anthony of Lisbon, Catholic saint.

Francisco Álvares, Portuguese missionary and explorer.

Luís Vaz de Camões, Portuguese poet and author of the Lusiad.

Francisco de Sá de Miranda, Portuguese poet of the Renaissance.

Mem de Sá, Governor-General of Brazil.

António Nobre, Portuguese poet.

Mário Simões Dias, violinist and musicologist.

Al Berto, Portuguese poet.

Lúcia dos Santos, Carmelite nun and one of the three visionaries of Fátima.

José de Anchieta, Spanish Jesuit and writer.

Pedro Nunes, Famous mathematician in the 16th century.

Christopher Clavius, German-born jesuit mathematician, one of the responsibles for the gregorian calendar.

Carlos Seixas, prominent Portuguese composer of the 18th century.

Joaquim Machado de Castro, Portuguese sculptor of the 18th century.

João Maria Correia Ayres de Campos, 1st Count of Ameal, Portuguese art collector.

Álvaro Cunhal, Portuguese politician, noted communist leader. He was born in Coimbra.

Miguel Torga, Portuguese writer of prose and poetry, pseudonym of Adolfo Correia Rocha who was a medical doctor.

Carlos Paredes, Portuguese musician.

Zeca Afonso, Portuguese musician.

Carlos Mota Pinto, Portuguese political figure, interim prime minister of Portugal between 1978 and 1979.

Mário Crespo, Portuguese journalist and reporter. He was born in Coimbra.

Pedro Passos Coelho, Portuguese politician. He was born in Coimbra.

Sérgio Conceição, Portuguese international footballer.

Zé Castro, Portuguese international footballer.

Nuno Piloto, Portuguese footballer, captain of the Academica Coimbra OAF football team.

Luis de Matos, Portuguese magician.

Paulo Furtado, the leading vocalist of the band Wraygunn.

JP Simões, singer and musician.

André Sardet, Portuguese singer and musician.

Filipe Albuquerque, Portuguese race car driver.

João Neto, Portuguese judo champion.

Miguel Veloso, Portuguese international footballer

Twin towns — Sister cities

Coimbra is twinned with: {| cellpadding="10" |- style="vertical-align:top;" | Aix-en-Provence, France, since 1982 Beira, Mozambique, since 1997 Cambridge, USA, since 1982 Curitiba, Brazil, since 1995 Daman, India, since 2004 Dili, East Timor, since 2002 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg, since 2005 || Fes, Morocco, since 1988 Halle, Germany, since 1975 Ilhas, Macau, since 1998 Lahore, Pakistan Mindelo, Cape Verde, since 1994 Padua, Italy, since 1998 Poitiers, France, since 1979 || Salamanca, Spain, since 1980 São Carlos, Brazil Santa Clara, USA, since 1971 Santiago de Compostela, Spain, since 1994 Santos, Brazil, since 1981 São Paulo, Brazil, since 1997 Yaroslavl, Russia, since 1984 Zaragoza, Spain, since 2005 |}

See also

University of Coimbra

Associação Académica de Coimbra

Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra

Queima das Fitas

Fado de Coimbra

Joanina Library

Associação Académica de Coimbra - O.A.F.

Coimbra Group of universities

Centro, Portugal

References

;Notes

External links

;Official websites

Coimbra's Municipality City Hall

Centro's Tourist Region

;Other websites

Coimbra City Guide from Wikitravel

Carmel of Coimbra

Forum Coimbra

Photos from Coimbra

Verdes Anos – Fado

Category:Cities in Portugal Category:Former national capitals Category:University towns

Name	George Michael
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou
Born	June 25, 1963East Finchley, North London, England
Instrument	Vocals, multiple instruments
Genre	Pop rock, Soft rock, New Wave, Blue-eyed soul
Voice type	Tenor, baritone
Occupation	Singer, songwriter, producer
Years active	1980–present
Label	Columbia, Sony
Associated acts	Wham!, Band Aid, Elton John, Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige, Mutya Buena, Whitney Houston
Influences	Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Aretha Franklin, Paul Young, The Temptations, Queen, Marvin Gaye
Domesticpartner	Anselmo Feleppa (1991–1993) Kenny Goss (1996–present)
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Notable instruments	PianoJohn Lennon model "Z" Steinway

George Michael (born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou (); June 25, 1963) is an English According to the Sunday Times Rich List 2009 George Michael is worth £90 million in currency alone.for Faith |before=U2for The Joshua Tree |after=Bonnie Raittfor Nick of Time }}

Category:1963 births Category:1980s singers Category:1990s singers Category:2000s singers Category:2010s singers Category:Blue-eyed soul singers Category:English criminals Category:English dance musicians Category:English-language singers Category:English multi-instrumentalists Category:English people of Cypriot descent Category:English pop singers Category:English singer-songwriters Category:English tenors Category:BRIT Award winners Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Ivor Novello Award winners Category:LGBT musicians from the United Kingdom Category:LGBT people from England Category:Living people Category:Musicians from London Category:People from Bushey Category:People from Finchley Category:Pop singer-songwriters Category:People convicted of drug offenses Category:Prisoners and detainees of England and Wales Category:Wham! members