Coimbra - São Tiago

A Roman settlement, named "Aeminium" existed here. When the neighbouring town "Conimbriga" got conquered and destroyed by the Suebes in 468, the survivors moved to "Aeminium" - and renamed it. The Visigoths under King Wittiza named the town "Eminio" later. In 714 the town was conquered by Muslim troops, who changed the name again.

Coimbra was finally recaptured in 1064 by King Fernando de Castilla y León. Coimbra became the second capital of the Kingdom of Portugal (after Guimarãesin) 1139, a status that moved to Lisbon in 1256. The University of Coimbra, founded by Denis of Portugal (aka "Dom Dinis") in 1290, is one of the oldest in Europe.

The small Romanesque church, dedicated to Saint James ("São Tiago") was consecrated in 1206, but it may be that this was already the second church here. Local, oral history tells, that Fernando I on recapturing Coimbra from the Moors in 1064, founded a church dedicated to St. James this very site. Today the church faces to the "Praça do Comércio".