Condeixa-A-Nova reveals itself through a variety of discoveries: the archaeological site of Conímbriga, buildings with different historical connections, a fluvio-karst gorge and local food culture. This lets you shape your visit around your interests—from urban history and architecture to landscapes and regional specialities.

Conímbriga: urban areas and periods

The excavated ruins of Conímbriga include a forum, aqueduct, commercial, industrial and residential quarters, an inn, several baths, an amphitheatre and defensive walls. This variety makes the site interesting from different perspectives: public spaces, housing, trade and supplies sit side by side. The House of the Fountains offers a distinctive feature of its own. It preserves a large, planted peristyle courtyard and polychrome mosaics in situ.

Infrastructure is also part of the archaeological picture: an aqueduct associated with Conímbriga is approximately 3,550 metres long and ends at the baths south of the ruins. The length is an approximation; at the same time, the endpoint makes the connection to the baths clear.

The periods can be set out in two ways. A confirmed human presence in Conímbriga dates back to the Chalcolithic and Bronze Age. Distinct from this is the timeframe of the permanent exhibition at the National Museum of Conímbriga: it illustrates the history of the site from the end of the second millennium BC to the 6th century AD. Its themes include everyday objects, the forum and domus, as well as trade, religion and the presence of the Suebi and Visigoths.

Here you can encounter both architectural remains and a thematic presentation of the site. The National Museum is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00; ticket sales end at 17:15. Check the times before your visit so you can take the ticket-sales cutoff into account when planning.

Architecture and cultural venues

The Paço dos Comendadores da Ega tells a different architectural story: this rural manor house is in the Manueline style and laid out in a U-shape around a central courtyard. It was built in the early years of the 16th century on the site of an old Templar castle; the work is attributed to Marcos Pires. The Igreja Matriz de Ega offers a much earlier historical reference, having already been built in 1162. The Palácio dos Figueiredos was added in the 17th century, commissioned by the Figueiredo family. Taken together, these buildings point to different historical contexts; they do not all share the same architectural history.

The Casa-Museu Fernando Namora has set visiting hours: it is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00. It is closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. When planning your visit, take account of the afternoon break and the closing days; check the opening hours in advance.

The Casa dos Arcos combines visitor services with a public cultural programme. The building was inaugurated in 2020 and opened to the public in 2021. The municipality of Condeixa acquired it to restore, rehabilitate and make it accessible to the public again with support from community funds. Today, it houses the Condeixa Tourist Office, an area for exhibiting and selling local products, and a multipurpose room for exhibitions and presentations.

Another way of presenting the area’s heritage is PO.RO.S, a multimedia and virtual museum associated with Conímbriga. It is housed in the former manor house of Quinta de São Tomé, which is classified as a municipal cultural asset. The excavated ruins, permanent exhibition and multimedia museum thus offer different ways to engage with the area’s cultural themes.

Landscape, travel and regional cuisine

For a different perspective on the landscape alongside archaeological and architectural interests, visit the Rota Carmelita: the four-kilometre-long fluvio-karst gorge of the Rio dos Mouros is of exceptional botanical value. Comparing it with Conímbriga’s architectural discoveries offers a shift between archaeological and landscape-focused experiences, without suggesting that they form a single walking route.

Buses to Conímbriga run from Coimbra via the IC 6, on the Condeixa–Tomar route. As schedules may change, check the connection before travelling.

Local cuisine also offers two distinctly different specialities. A traditional dish from Condeixa is wood-fired roast kid served with roast potatoes and cooked leafy greens. Escarpiada is a typical sweet made with bread dough, brown sugar, cinnamon and olive oil. One is a savoury dish, the other a sweet treat made with a few clearly named ingredients—a fitting culinary end to a journey of discovery that may also take in historic buildings and archaeological finds.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Condeixa A Nova, Chança, Ega, Furadouro, Bem da Fé, Penacova, Pampilhosa Da Serra, Figueira Da Foz.

Go to the main travel overview: Coimbra.