Biblioteca Joanina description and photos - Portugal: Coimbra (Topic)

Biblioteca Joanina description and photos - Portugal: Coimbra. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Biblioteca Joanina.

Photo and description

Coimbra, located on a hill, is the third most important city in Portugal. It is also called the old university city, as it houses one of the oldest universities in Europe. The university was founded in the 13th century and was originally located in Lisbon. But due to poor organization of functioning in 1537, the university was moved to Coimbra.

The Juanin Library is located in the University of Coimbra, next to the university tower, and is named after the Portuguese king, Joao V, during whose reign the library building was built. The building was built in the 18th century. The national coat of arms hangs above the entrance to the library. The library is located at the top of the university, and consists of three rooms: red, blue and olive, which are separated by decorative arches. Each room has two-story bookshelves almost to the ceiling. The walls of the library are very thick, and the doors are made of teak wood, which helps to maintain a certain temperature inside so that insects keep out in oak bookshelves.

Baroque style is clearly expressed in the decorative elements of the library's interior, a distinctive feature of which is the abundance of gilded details. The tables are made of rosewood and ebony, and the leather covers of the books, as well as the leather upholstery of the armchairs and leather wallpaper, have survived from the foundation of the library. The furniture in the halls is made of exotic woods covered with gilding.

The library contains a large collection of books, which is actively used by both students, and university teachers. Among this collection there are also rare copies, such as one of 20 ancient Hebrew Bibles, which survived during the Inquisition.

In 1901 the library was renamed into the Central Library of the University, as the faculties created their own libraries. In 1962, another library building was built, equipped with modern technology, which houses more than a million copies of books.

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Topic: Biblioteca Joanina description and photos - Portugal: Coimbra.