Greetings!

Do you like legends? From those bizarre stories that our grandparents tell on a winter night, sitting on a rocking chair, with the wood burning? And in the role of listeners ... are you those that the look shines just to imagine how it will end?

Well then. I bring you two legends from Coimbra, the city of students in Portugal. And to whet your curiosity a little more ... these legends ... hmmm ... involve kings and queens ... and they happened many, many years ago ...

Legend No. 1 - The Princess Cindazunda and the Coat of Arms of Coimbra

The legend goes ...

...That at the site of the ancient Roman city of Aeminium, Ataces, the Alans's King, was dedicated to the edification of a new city, Coimbra, on the right bank of the Mondego River.

In the meantime, the Suebi's King Hermenerico expected harsh revenge after the defeats suffered. Knowing of the presence of the Alan king at the site of Aeminium, he breaks into with his army and a bloody battle begins between the two armies that culminates in the red-tinted waters of the Mondego.

Once again Hermenerico is forced to retire, but Ataces has been on his trail and the Suebi's king has no alternative but to declare himself defeated. In peace negotiations, he offers Ataces the hand of his daughter, Princess Cindazunda. After seeing her, the Alans's king is immediately enamored by her beauty.

In Coimbra, at the wedding, Ataces decides to create a coat of arms that could perpetuate the wedding. This is how the current coat of arms of the city appears: Princess Cindazunda is on a cup that symbolizes her marriage to Ataces. A lion, timbre of Ataces, and a dragon, timbre of Hermenerico, flank the bowl.

In the city of Coimbra, at Arnado square, there is currently a sculpture representing the Princess Cindazunda.

Legend No. 2 - The Miracle of the Roses

The legend goes ...

... That with only 11 years old, Elizabeth of Aragon, came to Portugal to marry in Trancoso with the King Denis. Of a unique beauty, Elizabeth was the owner of an endless kindness. A document of the time says:

"Elizabeth ordered to dress up the raggedy she saw, visited the ulcerated sick, put her hands on the patients' heads without disgust and had them treated by her doctors and nurses. On the solemn days of the year, she distributed numerous outdoor reliefs to the people in need and to many monasteries, of the kingdom or even foreigners. Her possessions always entered, in greater or lesser quantities, for all ecclesiastical buildings and, sometimes, for those of general utility, such as fountains, bridges and paths. (...) She delighted in composing the frequent disagreements between the noble houses; she tried in every way to protect maidens and widows, lest misery cast them into perdition. Her customs were, in everything, modest, humble and chaste."

Despite being such a generous queen, Denis considered that there was a waste of the public treasury and, as such, ordered to stop such meritorious actions.

Saddened by the king's attitude, Elizabeth does not falter and she decides to plan a way out to take alms to the poor people of Coimbra city. Tradition says that Denis was informed of the queen's intentions by a man from the Palace, the previous day. Enraged, he decides to surprise the Lady when she's about to leave.

The following morning, a cold January morning, already in the palace gardens, the queen prepares to go out hiding gold coins (some say bread) in her lap when Denis appears and asks her politely:

- My queen, where are you going so early in the morning?

- I will put flowers on the altars of the Church of Santa Cruz, my lord.

- And what do you carry hidden in your lap, my lady?

After a few moments of silence, the kindly queen replies:

- Roses, sir.

- Roses? In January?!? You are lying to me. - shouted angrily Denis.

Releasing the cloak, Elizabeth replies:

- A Queen of Portugal doesn't lie!

And instead of gold coins (or bread), beautiful white roses fall from her lap.

This Miracle is known as the Miracle of the Roses and the Queen is known as Queen St. Elizabeth of Portugal (Rainha Santa Isabel) (canonized in 1625).

Patroness of the city of Coimbra, her silver tomb is on the altar of the Church of Santa Clara a Nova (St. Clare the New), in Coimbra.

Legend nº 3 - The Tragic Love of Pedro and Inês

For a third legend of the city, you can see the legend of Pedro and Inês: Portugal's most tragic love story

If you want to hear these and other legends told by expert guides, you can follow the tour to Fátima and Coimbra from Porto. Or if you are already in the town, take the opportunity to take a guided tour and discover the 1001 charms and hidden details of this

Visit Coimbra, the “student city”, with the second oldest University in Europe. A secular city, but dynamic, and that you always miss (saudade).