Coimbra University

Up at the end of the main drag, you turn right, pass the big mercado, and then 
take the funicular up to the upper old city and the university; here's a view of 
the funicular

In university neighborhoods, outside a publica, that is, a frat house; the Cheneys 
and William Bennett expended considerable energy wondering "why they hate us"; 
jeez, I hope it's not really McDonald's...

The old new cathedral

English spoken here

Much of the university was built during the decades-long 
Salazar regime (Franco's pal), so much of the architecture 
and adornment is national/romantic or social/realist or

whatever/whatever

Inside the old university courtyard, the great hall and clock tower; it was originally 
the royal palace; Portugal was won back from the Moors a bit ahead of Spain, and 
the capital was here until Lisbon was re-conquered

The university's old library, the Biblioteca, which houses many thousands of 
rare old manuscripts

A clandestine shot inside the library

More beautiful old tile work, this in a stairway of the grand hall (no pix inside)