The Arco de Almedina is the old main gate into the walled upper town of Coimbra, the steep district still called Almedina, from the Arabic al-madina, 'the city'. Often called the barbican gate, it is a passage through the medieval wall topped by the Torre de Almedina, a defensive tower that later served as the seat of the town council and the courts. Today the tower houses a small museum about the walls that once ringed the hill.
The Arco de Almedina at a glance
- Where: at the top of Rua Ferreira Borges in the lower town (Baixa), where steps and lanes start climbing to the upper town and the university.
- Built: a medieval gate in the town wall, with origins going back to the Islamic period and later rebuilding; the tower above has been a National Monument since 1910.
- What it is today: a pedestrian gateway and the Torre de Almedina, home to the Núcleo da Cidade Muralhada, a municipal museum about the walled city.
- Time needed: 5 minutes to pass through and look up; 30 to 45 minutes with the museum and the view from the tower.
From city gate to town hall tower
Coimbra stands on a hill above the river Mondego, and for most of its history its heart was the walled upper town. The walls ran for about two kilometres around the hilltop, and the Arco de Almedina was the main way in from the lower town and the river. After Ferdinand I of León took the city from Muslim rule in 1064, the defences were kept and strengthened, and Coimbra became the first capital of the Kingdom of Portugal in the 12th and 13th centuries.
The tower above the gate was built as a watchtower to guard the entrance. It has openings known as machicolations, through which defenders could drop stones or hot liquids on attackers at the gate. As the threat of war faded and the town spread down the hill, the tower took on a new role: for several centuries it housed the municipal government and the courts. Most of the wall was later lost among houses and streets, which makes this gate one of the clearest reminders of the old fortified city.
What to look for
- The arch itself, a deep stone passage through the old wall, where the noise of Rua Ferreira Borges suddenly gives way to narrow lanes and steps.
- The Torre de Almedina rising above the gate, with the openings of its machicolations high on the wall.
- Inside the tower museum, a plaster model of the medieval city with its castle and walls, and an audiovisual presentation on the roughly two kilometres of fortifications.
- The view from the top of the tower over the roofs of the Baixa and towards the river.
- Just beyond the gate, the stepped lanes climbing towards the Old Cathedral and the university.
Upper town and lower town
Coimbra has always been a city of two levels. Up the hill, inside the walls, lay the Almedina with the cathedral, the castle and later the university; below, outside the walls, grew the Baixa, the district of merchants, craftsmen and the river trade. The Arco de Almedina is where the two meet. Climbing through it from the busy shopping street into the quiet stepped lanes is still the best way to feel the difference between them.
Tips for your visit
- Walk through the gate from Rua Ferreira Borges uphill, so you see the change from the lower town to the upper town.
- The lanes beyond are steep, with uneven steps: wear comfortable shoes and take your time.
- Climb the tower if the museum is open, both for the model of the walls and for the view.
- Combine it with the Old Cathedral and the university higher up, then come back down to the Baixa for a coffee.
Nearby
- Rua Ferreira Borges: the main shopping street of the Baixa, right in front of the arch.
- Sé Velha (Old Cathedral): Coimbra's fortress-like Romanesque cathedral, a short but steep climb up the hill.
- University of Coimbra: one of Europe's oldest universities, with the Joanina Library and its courtyard overlooking the city, at the top of the hill.
- Santa Cruz Church and Praça 8 de Maio: the monastery church where the first kings of Portugal are buried, a few minutes' walk north.
See Coimbra with World City Trail
Our Coimbra scavenger hunt turns the old town into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around two hours, with about 37 minutes of walking. It includes places such as the Santa Cruz Church and Praça do Comércio. You can play in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese.
If you prefer a different format, Coimbra also has a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game.
Play the Coimbra scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Coimbra →
Play the outdoor escape game in Coimbra →
Facts checked in October 2026.