Coimbra Walk
While staying in Coimbra, we were captivated by the mournful and sentimental tunes of Fado, Portugal's traditional music. The impressive vocal performance accompanied by an original 8-string guitar left us in awe. After the performance, we had the opportunity to sample Port wine while meeting the talented artists.
Directions
The bus station on Avenida Fernao de Magalhaes has ATMs and baggage storage (closed on Saturdays and Sundays). The station is a quick taxi ride or a 15-minute walk from the center. To get to the town center, exit the bus station to the right and follow the busy street. On the left from the bus station, there is a Minipreco supermarket. You can check the bus connections online to plan your trip.
The tourist information center (TI) is located at Largo da Portagem, facing the Mondego River bridge. To get there, stay on Avenida Fernao de Magalhaes, which becomes Av. Emidio Navarro, and the triangular open area is Largo da Portagem.
Doppo Gelateria
We were delighted to find Doppo Gelateria on Praca de Comercio in Coimbra, as we are big fans of gelato. Right away, we knew we were in for a treat because the gelato was served from covered stainless steel containers. Many gelaterias display colorful gelato in open containers, but artisanal gelato is often stored in covered containers.
We spoke with the friendly shop owner and learned that he had studied the art of gelato making in Bologna, Italy. His gelatos are made with natural flavors, including lemons grown by his family and mango and passion fruit sourced from Sicily. We found his gelato to be on par with the best we've had in Italy. This is definitely a must-try spot!