I left Coimbra's bus station at around 9:30 and got there at 10:55. The ticket despite the short distance between the two cities was quite expensive: 7,40€ but also the only option if there aren't any blablacars. From Viseu's bus station I headed uphill and in 5 minutes reached the city center. I first got to the main square the Adro da Sé which is also the highest point of the town and where the Cathedral stands. On the other side of the square is the tourist office where I got a map of the town of 20 cents detailing all the main monuments and churches. I decided to visit the Misericordia church first which stands across the square opposite and facing the Cathedral. It has a beautiful rococo façade from the 18th century and though quite small inside it is very pretty and a man was also playing the organ which was pleasant to listen to. For just 1€ I was also able to visit the annexed museum which briefly illustrated the Misericordia's history and contained some niece pieces of art and paintings. I then went in the Cathedral; the entrance was not trough the main door but rather through the southern cloister that had an interesting courtyard with ionic columns. The church itself was first contructed n the 12th century right after the town had been reconquered from the Moors. The building suffered various architectural modifications particularly in the 16th century in Manueline and then Mannerist styles. On the southern side of the church one can see the restored Gothic entrance dating from when the church was first built. Entering the church I marveled at the intricate vaults of the ceiling and the imposing columns. The main altar was very nice as well; so were the side chapels. Unfortunately the museum inside was closed in the morning, but I eventually didn't get to see it due to being too tired later in the day (price was 2,50€). After the Cathedral I headed to the Grão Vasco Museum which was right next door, but I first took a quick lunch break with the two sandwiches I had brought from home while sunbathing right outside the museum's entrance. The student discount price was 2€ and it featured a really great collection of art pieces, one of the best in Portugal they say. In fact 10 of the pieces inside are nationally famous the best being the painting depicting São Pedro or St Peter by Vasco Fernandes, the famous painter whose name was given to the museum itself. After the museum I had some time to explore the rest of the city including a small archaeological museum: the José Coelho collection hosted in the Casa do Miradouro a nice palace. I also saw the remaining walls and gate, the Igreja dos Terceiros sitting on top of a hill in the southern part of town, and the Igreja do Carmo. I eventually got back to the bus station and got the 4pm bus that brought me back to Coimbra at 5:20pm.
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