On the morning of February 11, 1983, Coimbra woke up to a scene that seemed more like something out of a winter’s tale. During the early hours of the morning, snow began to fall silently, covering roofs, streets and squares in a blanket of white. For many residents, it was the first time they had seen snow in the city, and the phenomenon quickly became a historic moment that is still remembered with nostalgia today.
Improvised scarves were attached to the traditional black cloaks, and the Schoolyard was filled with a white veil. In the Upper and Lower Towns, children and adults marveled at the rare spectacle, while some adventurers tried to slide down the snow-covered streets. Many schools were closed because of the extreme weather.
The intense cold of the season, combined with a current of polar air, meant that the snow spread to various parts of Portugal, but it was in Coimbra that the event gained a special place in the collective memory. Photographs from the time show the city completely white, with iconic places like the Botanical Gardens and the University looking like winter postcards.
More than four decades on, the blizzard of 1983 remains one of the most significant weather events in the city’s history. Whenever winter arrives and the temperatures drop, some people look up at the sky and wonder: will Coimbra ever wear white again?
