3 Best Sights in Coimbra and Central Portugal, Portugal

One of Coimbra's most illustrious museums, the Museu Nacional de Machado de Castro sits on the site of a vast Roman cryptoporticus (a maze of underground storage vaults). The building above, constructed in the 12th century to house the local bishops, was extensively modified over the centuries and finally converted into a museum in 1912. The Bishop's Chapel, adorned with 18th-century tiles and silks, remains a highlight. The museum is notoriously difficult to navigate, although there are plenty of staffers on hand to point you in the right direction. As you exit the museum, note the large 18th-century azulejo panel depicting Jerónimo translating the Bible. A pleasant terrace restaurant offers beautiful city views and refined light meals.  

While this museum celebrates the city's rich Art Nouveau heritage, the main event is the actual building, known as Casa Major Pessoa, a wonderfully flamboyant example of the genre dating to 1909. Notable among the displays are stunning hand-painted tiles decorated with flowers, birds, and animals. The collection itself has a few items of interest, but the biggest plus is that visitors are given a map of various Art Nouveau landmarks around the city. They're easy to find, marked with silver plaques on the ground.

Housed in a former seminary beside the cathedral, this palatial museum was originally created to display the works of 16th-century local boy Grão Vasco, who became Portugal's most famous painter. In addition to a wonderful collection of altarpieces by Vasco and his students, the museum has a wide-ranging collection of other art and objects, from Flemish masterpieces to Asian furniture.