UCtour

Founded in 1290 by King D. Dinis, the University of Coimbra is the oldest Portuguese-speaking university and one of the oldest in the world. Originally, the University had 4 Faculties; Theology, Canons, Laws and Medicine, with its installations traveling between Lisbon and Coimbra for three centuries.

This is definitely established in Coimbra in 1537, during the reign of D. João III, settling in the current Palace of Schools in 1544.

In the eighteenth century, the University would receive its major reform since its foundation, with the implementation of the new statutes; Known as "Estatutos Pombalinos" in 1772. As a result of the vision of the Marquis of Pombal, these statutes led to the modernization of education, especially focus on science teaching component. For this purpose the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy was created and the teaching of medicine was reformed.

This set of renovations created the need to build new buildings and spaces to house the new studies. As such, at this time the Astronomical Observatory, Chemical Laboratory, the initial nucleus of the Botanical Garden, the Natural History Gallery, the Office of Experimental Physics and the University Press were built.

During the twentieth century, the University created new poles, being today spread throughout the city of Coimbra. There are currently 8 colleges (Letters, Law, Medicine, Science and Technology, Pharmacy, Economics, Psychology and Educational Sciences, Sport Sciences and Physical Education) and more than 22,000 students from all corners of the world.

With 730 years of history, the University of Coimbra is an unavoidable institution in the history of Portugal and the entire Portuguese-speaking world, having been considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013, due to its unique material and immaterial heritage, fundamental in the history of Portugal. European and world scientific culture.

"Scientiae Thesaurus Mirabilis" - Foundation Document of the General Study

Geophysical and Astronomic Observatory

At the Geophysical and Astronomical Observatory of the University of Coimbra, both the modern scientific research, focused on the study of the solar system, and the promotion of science and the science outreach of the fields of knowledge which are related to it are in the same space. Nowadays, the artificial city lights rob us of the stars and we became accustomed to seeing the world through the small screen of a mobile phone. Feeling immersed while gazing at the starry night is no longer a common experience. However, at the Observatory, with its digital Planetarium with capacity for 50 people, the starry night and its puzzles are given back to us, in sessions adapted to school curricula—from Physics and Chemistry to Mathematics, from the Study of the Environment to Natural Sciences, from Geography to Biology and Geology, not forgetting Philosophy. A full visit to the Observatory will also guide us through its large Spectroheliograph, which with gears and mirrors observes the Sun that shines over us, its beautiful Museological Collection, which breaking its showcases tells us stories about the human adventure for knowledge, and its Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Astronomical Dome equipped with a telescope, with which we can also observe the sun. An experience we will never forget!

Baroque Library

The Baroque Library is the best example of Portuguese Baroque and is considered to be one of the richest European libraries. It is also known as the Joanina Library in honour and memory of King John V, who authorised its construction and whose portrait, painted by Domenico Duprà, distinctly dominates the space inside the Noble Floor. Construction on the Baroque Library was completed in 1728. It functioned as the University Library from 1777 until the first half of the 20th century. It holds 60 thousand books, dating from the 16th century to the 18th century, on a wide variety of topics that can still be consulted today.

Royal Palace

The building currently known as the Royal Palace was built at the end of the 10th century, serving as a fortress for the governor of the city during Islamic rule. In 1131, it became the first Portuguese royal household, the residence of Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal. In 1537, during the reign of King John III, the University was permanently relocated from Lisbon to Coimbra, having been established in this building in 1544.

Saint Michael's Chapel

The origins of the Royal St. Michael's Chapel date back to the 11th century after the city was recaptured from the Moors in 1064. Its current architecture dates back to the 16th century during the reign of King Manuel. The decor, especially the tiles, was added throughout the course of the 17th century. Its interior also boasts the majestic Iberian organ, consisting of some 2000 pipes, installed between 1733 and 1737. Today, the chapel continues to be used for religious ceremonies and concerts.

Chemistry Laboratory

The Science Museum opened its first phase in 2006, with the requalification of the Chimico Laboratory and the permanent exhibition Secrets of Light and Matter, an interdisciplinary exhibition of examples from the various scientific collections of the University of Coimbra. As early as 2008, he was the winner of the Micheletti Prize, which distinguishes the best and most innovative European museum of the year in science, technique and industry.

College of Jesus

One of the oldest Jesuit colleges in the world, the College of Jesus was instrumental in the academic formation of missionaries, playing an important role in establishing contacts between Europe, Africa, Brazil and Asia. With the expulsion of the Society of Jesus in 1759, the College became the center of the Pombaline Reformation and was remodeled to host the new Faculties of Natural Philosophy and Mathematics.

Botanical Garden

The Botanical Garden of the University of Coimbra was created at the initiative of the Marquis of Pombal in 1772. The Garden, where history, science and nature meet, extends over 13 ha. The Botanical Garden is located in the city center, with terraces ranging from University Uptown to the Mondego River. Since 2013 is a World Heritage Site.

Great Hall of Acts

This hall is the most important space at the University of Coimbra. It was the old Throne Room, and was the residence of the kings of the first Portuguese dynasty between 1143 and 1383. Important events in the history of portugal took place here, such as the proclamation of King John I in 1385.After the University opened in the Palace of Schools, this space became the main hall of the University of Coimbra, where the most important ceremonies of the academic life took place. The current design of this hall is the result of renovations carried out in the mid-17th century. The walls were lined with "carpet-like" tiles manufactured in Lisbon. The wooden ceiling was renovated with 172 panels that look like grotesque motifs (representing sea monsters, Indians, mermaids, plants). The walls are lined with the portraits of all of the Portuguese kings - from King Afonso Henriques to King Manuel II - with the exception of the Phillipine dynasty (from 1580 to 1640). The new monarch, King John IV, offered the Crown of Portugal to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in thanksgiving, proclaiming her the patroness of the Kingdom. This required the support of the lentes (lecturers) of Coimbra who, headed by the Rector, took a solemn oath to Our Lady in 1646, which was recorded on stone plaque in St. Michael's Chapel. Since then, Portuguese monarchs ceased to be depicted with a crown.

Great Greenhouse

Considered one of the oldest buildings of iron architecture in Portugal, The Great Greenhouse dates from the second half of the 19th century, presenting a perfect combination of iron and glass that gives this space an unusual beauty. The Great Greenhouse requalification project in 2017, won the National Urban Rehabilitation Award, in the category of Best Intervention with Social Impact. Its interior is home to a great diversity of species, including orchids, carnivorous plants, tropical trees and ferns, distributed in three sections - tropical, subtropical and temperate climates. The program allows a visit to west wing, where tropical plants predominate.

College of S. Jerónimo

The College of S. Jerónimo is a large school building, whose construction began in 1565, near the city wall and not far from the old castle. It is part of a group of twenty-three university colleges that form a network around the University and that, even today, gives the urban landscape of Coimbra one of its most unique features.

Cabinet of Curiosities

In this space you can experience a whole world made up of "bizarre", unusual and exquisite objects, which, due to their beauty and enigmatic character, will arouse curiosity, a sense of wonder and the desire to find out more by visitors of all ages. It is a "Theater of the World" open to families! In this place where the shifting lights guide the visitor, it is possible to have a sample of the fantastic collection that the University of Coimbra, as a result of the work of its scholars and researchers, has been building for the last 250 years. In this place there are no explanatory captions, because it is intended to recreate the pre-museum of science where contemplation and admiration were taken to the limit. The total immersion of visitors in this space efficiently seeks to encourage the visitor's will to explore and wander within the other spaces of the museum where organization and scientific information dominate. It intends to be an emotional and sensorial challenge for the understanding and experience of a museum with a classical structure, although progressively modernized.

Academic Museum

The Academic Museum is a space dedicated to the preservation of the intangible heritage of the University of Coimbra, where you can feel the union between this institution and the city. It brings together the museum collection representative of some of the most remarkable experiences of the student community through evocative rooms. This new Academic Museum, entitled "Éfe-Érre-Á - Moments from the Academic Life", has a unique contribution to the knowledge of student life in Coimbra and in the European identity and aims to show, in an immersive way, the daily life in academia. It has a considerable collection of elements that are historical testimonies of academic life over time. There you can see several collections, related to the Coimbra song (with instruments, sheet music, records), sports (with an exhibition of some of the trophies won by the Academic Association of Coimbra), and student life (with an exhibition of academic dress, a replica of a Republic, and also a Burning of the Ribbons alegoric car) that give us an insight into the history and academic life of the University

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What to visit

Geophysical and Astronomic Observatory

Baroque Library

Royal Palace

Saint Michael's Chapel

Chemistry Laboratory

College of Jesus

Botanical Garden

Great Hall of Acts

Great Greenhouse

College of S. Jerónimo

Cabinet of Curiosities

Academic Museum

Geophysical and Astronomic Observatory

Baroque Library

Royal Palace

Saint Michael's Chapel

Chemistry Laboratory

College of Jesus

Botanical Garden

Great Hall of Acts

Great Greenhouse

College of S. Jerónimo

Cabinet of Curiosities

Academic Museum