First founded in 1290 in Lisbon, the university moved to Coimbra in early 16th century, and was the only university in the Portuguese-speaking world until 1911. The university was founded by king Dinis, whose mortal remains were dug up (for research) recently, and, as is customary these days, a recreation of his facial features was made (below left).
As befits a long-time royal institution, the current Ceremonial Hall is the former throne room (above right). The old chemistry building houses the University Museum (below left), which has preserved a typical 19th century lecture hall (below right).
Although many of the current buildings are from 1940s and 50s (above left), the old part is from 17 and 18th centuries (title picture), and the University Museum
The crown jewel here is the Joanine Library (above), named after king John V who commissioned it in the early 18th century. It looks like he really respected books based on the library design – and just to make sure everything is still in order, he looks down from the wall on current visitors. Below left is the main entrance to the library, and below right some of the more ordinary shelves.
There are other old inhabitants of the library looking down on visitors, as there evidently still are bats that have been used for centuries to control moths and other pests dangerous to books. Some of the resident bat species are themselves protected these days.
Students have not always been famous for good behaviour, and thus you needed an academic prison to cool off hot heads (above left). Then you might go to the chapel to pray forgiveness (above right). Below are some of the black-robed (well-behaved) students on the steps to the Ceremonial Hall.
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