Portugal
participants
The event attracted international students to a part of the city that they usually do not see and visit as much, making it possible for small establishment’s owners to promote their places, which overall stimulated the local economy of the city. This is very important for the city of Coimbra, especially now as smaller establishments are the most affected by the restrictions to control the Covid-19 pandemic in Portugal. Our objective was also in line with the goal of the city hall of revitalizing downtown Coimbra and helping small businesses.
The event was first and foremost a guided tour, which gave the opportunity for international students to understand and learn the history of the city. On top of that, because we also visited multiple places that are important in the student culture of Coimbra, the international students discovered student history and its quirks, thus becoming immersed in local culture.
The event consisted of a guided tour around the city with stops in 8 bars/restaurants, in which the participants could taste and learn about traditional food and beverages of the region. This included pasteis de tentúgal, and traditional ham, cheese, snails, and sausages. Because the visited places are staples in the life of a university student in Coimbra, this gave international students the opportunity to know more about the culture and traditions of the region and to connect even further with the city, all while having fun and meeting other people.
