Go on a guided tour of a library containing countless tomes, Baroque architecture and an intriguing history entwined with a prison.
The Biblioteca Joanina is a historic hilltop library with stunning Baroque touches. Dating back to the 1700s, the library is one of the highlights of Coimbra University’s campus and offers wonderful views of the surrounding Old Town area. Snap photos of this marvelous structure and admire its ornate décor and grandiose features.
Clamber up the elegant staircase that runs parallel to the library’s white building. The library also has light brown columns and a row of stylish arched windows that hover above smaller square windows. Marvel at the two pairs of columns that flank the tall portal of the main façade. The national coat of arms stands above the door.
Enter the library and begin to explore the three floors adorned with bookshelves filled with literary volumes. It is estimated that the structure contains hundreds of thousands of books, including rare tomes and antique artifacts dating back to the 16th century. Appreciate the high quality of woodwork and gaze up at the ceiling artworks that were painted by Lisbon artists Vicente Nunes and António Simões Ribeiro.
Learn from a tour guide about how the library once functioned as a prison. The Academic Prison was in use when the university had its own judicial code separate from that of the city.
The library is considered a stable environment, enabling books to stay preserved. Note that the building was constructed in the 18th century, making it one of the oldest surviving structures in the university. It received its first batch of books in 1750, before the collection grew to its current size over subsequent centuries.
Purchase a ticket to enter the library at an assigned time slot. A docent will accompany you on a guided tour.
The Biblioteca Joanina is on the Coimbra University campus in the southern part of the historic city center. Take the train to the Coimbra Railway Station and walk southeast for 12 minutes up the steep hill to the library. See nearby sights, such as the Catholic Church, the Via Latina and the Museu Nacional Machado de Castro.
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