In a recent live stream, a comment asked me if Coimbra is as dirty as people keep telling me. I needed clarification as I still needed to experience much trash or debris. At least not in comparison to many other cities around the world. If you have experience with Coimbra being grimy, let me know in the comment section.

The question might have surfaced due to a video I created about cleaning up an area after a festival. 

Then, I started observing other people describing things in Portugal as dirty. So, it may be essential to address these concerns as many people are having these discussions.

Yes, you can observe trash throughout the city. The exteriors of the buildings do not appear pristine, like the photos you see on Instagram.

In Coimbra and other parts of Portugal, stone and textured concrete buildings acquire a modeled look. The facades can appear a bit grimy. The Saharan sands can blow in and weather the exterior.

There is also quite a bit of graffiti. 

What I also observed was that the windows in these buildings were clean. However, depending on the building, the windows could be significantly older. 

Overall, Coimbra is a great place for digital nomads, and I discussed how I had previously thought it was clean. However, I will go into more detail about the appearance of Coimbra here.

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Observations of Cleanliness in Coimbra

So, to answer the question about Coimbra being grimey, we need to understand the perspective of those with that judgment. When you have people congregate, there is going to be debris. It is a sad reality. It even happens in the smallest of towns in the United States.

Granted, I am not trying to explain the observations by sweeping everything under the rug. However, I will describe things through my comments and photos.

The Cleanliness of Affluent Neighborhoods in Coimbra Dirty?

The neighborhoods with wealth are going to appear cleaner. These are going to be newer builds. Typically, these buildings will possess higher energy efficiency ratings due to their new construction regulations. 

Often, drivers will park their cars on the streets. They will also double park depending on where they are in the city. The vehicles parking on the sidewalks take a toll on the cobblestones. 

However, if you expect the sidewalks to stay untouched or graffiti not to touch your building, it will probably be an exercise in futility. 

The rain also causes wear and tear, but the beautiful cobblestone sidewalks do not stay pristine. 

The culture in Portugal encourages the youth to question political norms. The Latas festival in Coimbra is an event that highly suggests that students form an opinion to challenge political thinking. Therefore, these thoughts eventually become expressed through the use of spray paint.

If graffiti greatly disturbs you, living in Portugal is not where you want to land. Graffiti is very much a part of the culture and isn’t leaving. 

Are Older Neighborhoods in Coimbra Dirty or Clean?

The older neighborhoods have increased frequencies of graffiti and damage to the sidewalks. Part of the reason is that this has higher frequencies of people. Students live in these areas, and tourists enjoy the cheaper accommodations. However, the graffiti isn’t nearly as prevalent as in Lisbon.

Graffiti

Graffiti is common throughout the city. The most common areas to see graffiti are near the University of Coimbra. The graffiti can be small or large, depending on what you observe as unwanted. 

I am more tolerant of what people describe as graffiti. I read the words expressed on the walls to gain an understanding of their expression. Sometimes, the utilization of the words put on the walls are clever alterations.  

One might deem some artwork as graffiti to dismiss the work as art. Some of the real republicas have some intricate pieces displayed. However, others might observe the student’s expressions as trash or dirty. 

However, when observing the graffiti, take a closer look. These students are the individuals who will be the next generation of individuals in your community. The same individuals in the black cloaks are who we all love walking Coimbra’s streets. 

Sidewalks

More tourists mean more people are parking their cars on sidewalks. However, this isn’t to put the sole responsibility on the tourists. Some of the individuals parking on the sidewalks are also delivery drivers. It is just a reality with the increased traffic and the storefronts nearby.

The locations with less traffic will also see plants growing in the cracks of the cobblestones. Using herbicides is only used sometimes as they prefer to be environmentally friendly. 

Weeds are allowed all over the green spaces.

As you walk around town, there are some areas where you might question why they don’t cut these weeds back. The reason is the exact explanation of why you might observe plants growing through the cobblestones.

In Coimbra, they do not use many herbicides outside of agriculture. Rarely will they come to mow down these plants. However, they might cut back the old dead plants late in the season.

Therefore, some of these plants, which you might deem unsightly, can stay.

So why would they do this besides not wanting to burn fossil fuels or use herbicides? The main reason is these are native wildflowers. So, while the plants might not have large, showy flowers, they provide native microhabitats to support a healthy ecosystem.

While it could be a better system, promoting a healthier atmosphere is a better method. 

Is the Water in Coimbra Dirty or Clean?

Most residents and tourists prefer to drink bottled water. Even though public water conforms to all EU standards, people hesitate to drink tap water. When we asked residents what’s the reason they are not drinking Portuguese tap water, the answers were as follows:

They don’t trust the water from their tap because it travels hundreds of kilometers through pipes; some are over 50 years old.

Many old abandoned buildings with lead pipes connect the water system with backflow water. However, Coimbra has had a recent massive overhaul of the wastewater and water systems.

The project was a significant reason for the construction around the riverfront. The other project is in the older locations of town by the University.

The treatment of drinking water with chlorine gives it a strong taste, and many people are suspicious of the health risks of consuming chlorine daily.

Is the Air in Coimbra Dirty or Clean?

Overall, the air quality in Coimbra is immaculate. The daily air quality is measured to be in good standing almost always. 

Some cars, motorcycles, and buses burn fossil fuels. However, there are charging stations for electric vehicles around Coimbra. The city buses utilize electricity to move people from place to place.

Overall, the city does an admirable job of controlling the air quality. 

Choupal National Forest has a direct connection to the city. As a result, there are short periods where pollen counts might drastically increase. You can see the pollen in the air; if you leave your windows open without screens, the debris will enter your building.

The forest is also a great source to help remove CO2 from the air. 

Similarly, as with pollen issues, the Saharan Desert winds pick up sand and bring it into Portugal. As a result, a couple of times a year the sand might affect the air quality. However, these days are rare occurrences. 

Pollen and Saharan sand can also deposit themselves onto the rough substrate of the concrete walls. Therefore making the buildings look dirty.

Atypical Last Thoughts

In conclusion, we must look closer to the question about Coimbra being grimy when we observe a new area during our scouting trip. We must step back from the spell if we are quickly enamored with a neighborhood. Likewise, it is critical to step back if you despise a community. Therefore, on your scouting trip, you want to avoid judging a city by its cover through your first impressions. 

Our American sensibilities observe different types of building materials. We are used to modern glass buildings, often with lovely facades and stick house framing. 

If you visit houses in Portugal, you will observe that most interiors are clean and well-kept. The exteriors of the building have many layers and textures.

The streets in Coimbra, Portugal, are cleaned almost daily. Every night in Coimbra, trash trucks come by to remove the refuse. So, depending on the day, you might observe the city as clean or dirty. 

My opinion of clean versus dirty might be different than yours, so hopefully, I was able to paint you a picture of the various layers in Coimbra that you may experience. 

If you are exploring much of Europe and want to spend time in England, look at our post on Scotland.

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