Aeminium
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Aeminium was the ancient name of the city of Coimbra, in Portugal. Its most ancient remains are dated from the time of the Roman domination. The Romans founded the town of Aeminium in this place, which came under the protection of nearby Conímbriga situated some 15km away to the south. The Sueves razed the nearby township of Conímbriga in 468. Its inhabitants who had meanwhile fled to Aeminium finally adopted and adapted the name. Today the ruins of Conímbriga are one of the most important and well-preserved Roman ruins anywhere in the Roman world.
In Coimbra itself there are few remains from ancient Aeminium. The most important is the cryptoportico, an underground gallery of arched corridors built to support the Roman Forum of the city. During the Middle Ages, the Bishop's Palace of the city was built over the forum, and the cryptoportico is now located under the palace, now turned into the Machado de Castro Museum. The cryptoportico can be visited through the museum.
