Parque Verde do Mondego

Nedanför kullen av Universidade de Coimbra, the Mondego widens into the river park that reshaped the city’s relation with its water: the Parque Verde do Mondego, a riverside landscape of meadows, beaches and cycle paths opened in 2004 on both banks of the river.

En grön flodrand

The park covers a vast stretch of riverside ground, with lawns for picnics, playgrounds, walking and cycling paths along the water, and river pools where Coimbra cools off in summer. Bridges link the two banks — among them the curved footbridge of Pedro and Inês, opened in 2007, which joins the park’s two halves with a reference to the city’s own legend.

Kork och arkitektur

At the park’s edge stands the Pavilhão Centro de Portugal, built for the national exhibition in cork by the architects Eduardo Souto de Moura and Álvaro Siza Vieira — an architectural landmark that ties the park to the region’s industry. The visit pairs naturally with the Quinta das Lágrimas trädgårdar strax över floden.

Det här får du se

• De flodnära gräsmattorna och gångstigarna
• Gångbron Pedro e Inês
• Korkbyggda Pavilhão Centro de Portugal
• Flodpoolerna och sommarens stränder
• Utsikten upp till universitetens torn

Praktisk information

Parken löper längs Mondego vid foten av Coimbra, mellan universitetskullen och Santa Clara-banken, en kort promenad från historiska centrum.

Bildkredit: Parque Verde do Mondego av Vitor Oliveira — CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.