Coimbra is a city in two parts. Indeed, the upper section was a city unto itself. One of the aristocracy and clergy, while the lower section was inhabited by merchants, artisans, and labourers. Therefore, it is not unexpected that some of the more refined or classic monuments reside in the upper section, but most of the fun is to be had in the lower section! 

My wife and I walked the entire boundary of the inscribed area (probably twice). While the university buildings are excellent, particularly the library, and some of the views are superb, many of my favorite places were slightly hidden or not obvious points of interest. These are the places I will discuss here, since they have not been mentioned yet.

Botanical Garden of the University of Coimbra

The garden, which includes exquisite terraces, a glass greenhouse, and monumental fountains was a perfect place for a walk. The garden really is pleasant and I found much more than I expected! These places really make exploring fun, when its far better than originally thought. I notice on wikipedia it states "The garden, considered one of the most beautiful of Europe, occupies 13 hectares and can be divided in two parts." While that judgement may be slight hyperbole, I found the garden far more interesting than the typical austere symmetrical gardens that blanket palace grounds throughout Europe. The garden is quite large, but it also feels secluded, a place for contemplation and relaxation. You could imagine students seeking out quite places in this garden.

Aqueduct of San Sebastian 

This fairly large aqueduct dates back to the 16th century. Its impressive to say the least, but less so if you just visited Segovia! Which I had. Still, it was interesting and I knew nothing about it beforehand, which made it another bit of fun exploring. Before anyone checks a map of the inscribed area, yes its included along with the garden. Since its location is adjacent to the garden, you can enjoy both easily.

Manga Cloister

Formerly part of the Monastery of Santa Cruz, this cloister which is now a fusion of a cloister and garden, is stunning and a bit out of place all at once. The location is also somewhat near to a convenient elevator that some use to more easily reach the upper section of Coimbra. Besides the birds, we pretty much had the cloister to ourselves. The yellow color with the blue sky made an excellent object for photography. It will probably only take 10 minutes of your time, but its a worthy stop.

The Patio of the Inquisition

A slight detour just off Sofia street, you might find some decent food here, but it also has some dark history. Very little remains, but through an arched door you can see some of the original foundations of the Inquisitional Court headquarters in Coimbra. Not much information, but nevertheless I found it interesting.

Overall, Coimbra was one of my favorite places in Portugal. Besides the history, the food is delicious and there is some truly spectacular terraces in which to delight in both food, wine, and conversation.