Old masonry buildings in Coimbra, Portugal were studied to understand their vulnerability to earthquakes. The researchers looked at the buildings' construction and structural details to see how they would hold up during seismic events. They found weaknesses in the buildings' structures that could lead to damage. By testing different strengthening techniques, they were able to improve the buildings' overall stability and reduce the risk of damage from earthquakes. The study showed that these strengthening methods can make a significant difference in protecting these historic buildings from seismic risks.