Venue, Location and Accommodation

University of Coimbra & Coimbra Municipality

The University

By signing “Scientiae Thesaurus Mirabilis”, King Dinis created the oldest university of the country and one of the oldest in the world. Dated from 1290, the document originated the General Study, recognised in the same year by Pope Nicholas IV. A century after the birth of the nation, the University of Coimbra germinated. It starts operating in Lisbon but, in 1308, it is transferred to Coimbra, alternating between the two cities until 1537, when it is definitely settled in the city of river Mondego.

Initially confined to the Royal Palace, the University spread throughout the city of Coimbra, while modifying its landscape and making of it the University City. It later enlarged with the creation of a second Campus, dedicated to Engineering and Technology, and with a third Campus devoted to Health Sciences.

With over seven centuries, the University of Coimbra has a unique tangible and intangible heritage, keystone in the scientific culture of Europe and the World, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013.

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The City

Coimbra is a district capital, the largest city of the Centre Region of Portugal with around 150,000 inhabitants.

The city is near to both the mountains and the sea: 40 minutes away from “Serra da Lousã” – which belongs to the European network of protected areas, famous for its schist villages – and 2h30 away from “Serra da Estrela” – the highest mountain of Continental Portugal, well-known for its snow sports and local gastronomy. The beautiful beaches and seaports of Figueira da Foz and Aveiro are only 50 minutes away.

The good road and railway infrastructures and the transportation network allows you to arrive at the Lisbon airport in two hours and at the Porto airport in one hour, from where daily cheap flights depart to the several European capital cities. Travelling by car, you can arrive in Salamanca in three hours and in Vigo in two hours. From Coimbra train station B you can take international trains to Madrid and Paris.

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How to get to the venue

How to Get from Lisbon or Porto airports to Coimbra (Hotel Vila Galé)

Coimbra is halfway between Lisbon and Porto, which makes it one of the most popular stops between these two cities.

The fast train is the easiest way to get to Coimbra from Lisbon or Porto airports.

By train

There are frequent trains from Lisbon and Porto to Coimbra. The service is operated by CP. www.cp.pt

Choose the high-speed Alfa Pendular (AP) train, which runs every hour or so. The fastest train takes 1:30 hours. Tickets can be booked on CP’s website.

In Lisbon, trains leave from Santa Polónia and Oriente stations. Oriente is the modern station in Parque das Nações, close to the airport (about 6 min in the subway).

In Porto fast trains leave from Campanhã. To get there from the Porto Airport to Campanhã, you can use the Metro (about 40 min) or taxi.

From Coimbra station to the Hotel

From Coimbra B station to the Hotel Vila Galé, you can walk for 15 minutes or take a taxi/uber.

Accommodation

Recommended Accommodation:

Vila Galé Coimbra - 4*

Address: R. Abel Dias Urbano 20, 3000-001 Coimbra

Website: https://www.vilagale.com/pt/hoteis/centro-de-portugal/vila-gale-coimbra

Contact: +351 239 240 000

E-mail: portugal.reservas@vilagale.com

Special price for 2nd MIA-Portugal Ageing Spring School participants

Dates: May 26 to 30.

Discount: 10% off the best available rate.

Promotional Code: Springschool

These conditions are valid for reservations made directly on the Vila Galé website (vilagale.com), where you should enter the above code to access the special event conditions. The discount does not apply to non-refundable rates. Please note that no reservations have been made for these requests, so they are subject to availability and the rates applicable at the time of inquiry.