Coimbra is associated with the legendary love story of Pedro and Inês but there are many other curious stories as a result, or not, of the people’s imagination. The Legend of Cindazunda, for example, duly documented, tells us the story of the city’s foundation.
Aeminium, the ancient Roman city of Coimbra, was located where the ruins of Conímbriga are today, and was subject, for a long time, to the Roman Empire. “But a flood of Barbarians floods Spain in 409 and the Mondego recognized the lordship of the Suevi.”, the King Hermenerico. In turn, Ataces, legendary king of the Alans, aimed to gain territory, which led him to bloody clashes with Hermenerico, who ended up losing control over the Center of Coimbra. Ataces, fearing the safety of his fortresses, reduced Conímbriga to ashes and laid, along the right bank of the Mondego River, the foundations of a new city that he called “Col-imbria”. On the other hand, Hermenerico, hoping to rescue the lands that Ataces had taken from him, appears with his army next to the new walls of Coimbra, starting a new fight between the two armies. From this bloody fight, Ataces emerges victorious again. However, not satisfied, he pursues Hermenerico to the banks of the Douro. Hermenerico, wishing for peace, offers his rival the hand of his daughter, the beautiful Princess Cindazunda. Upon returning to Coimbra, Ataces, in love and enchanted by Cindazunda, with clear eyes and blond hair, offers a coat of arms to the city, where Princess Cindazunda appears crowned, symbolizing and perpetuating their marriage.
In August 2017, the Municipality of Coimbra inaugurated, in Praça do Arnado, a sculpture representing Princess Cindazunda, a tribute to the Woman of Coimbra.
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