The Portuguese city of Coimbra actually first came on my radar when I saw a job there for English speakers. Since it had a decent amount to see and do, particularly drawn in by its library, I decided to visit on my first trip to Portugal. It was definitely a highlight of my trip and I can’t recommend a visit to Coimbra enough because of all of the stunning history it has!

A Brief History of Coimbra

Coimbra first came to be during the Roman period when Aeminium was established. It was actually a less important city than the nearby … Continue reading

Honestly, my day trip to Tomar was very last minute and I didn’t know much about it before visiting. I was looking for a small medieval town to see and it fit the bill. I have to say, it made a very nice day out and the convent was, of course, the main highlight of the day.

The Knights Templar in Tomar

Templarios by José María Rodríguez de Losada, 1826

We talk a lot about the Crusades but there were normal, everyday Christians during this time that tried to make pilgrimages to Jerusalem, as well. The Templar Order (or “Poor … Continue reading

With a bone chapel and Roman temple, Evora jumped high on my Portuguese to-visit list and it was a definite stop on my first trip to Portugal. It did not disappoint! There’s so much beauty and fascinating history to be seen in this small town.

A Short History of Evora

Evora has a noted history that goes way back, before the Roman era, to the Celts. Eburos is a Celtic name for yew tree, and the name Evora comes from it. So the name dates back about 3-5000 years!

When it became part of the Roman empire, it was called … Continue reading