Biblioteca Joanina, Baroque academic library at University of Coimbra, Portugal
The Biblioteca Joanina is a three-story baroque library at the University of Coimbra with thick stone walls. Its rooms feature geometric floor patterns and gilded oak shelves holding more than 60,000 volumes across multiple fields of knowledge.
King John V of Portugal ordered construction of this library between 1717 and 1728 to house the university's expanding collection. The project was part of the king's cultural reforms and reflected his commitment to academic prestige during his reign.
The library displays Portuguese craftsmanship through painted ceilings and ornate wooden carvings throughout its rooms. The black, red, and green color scheme creates an interior that feels like a baroque work of art meant to be walked through.
The library is only accessible through guided tours that also include other historical university spaces. Plan time for your visit, and note that stairs and narrow passages are part of the experience inside.
A colony of bats inhabits the library and provides natural pest control by eating insects that damage paper. Staff members cover surfaces each night to protect the valuable collection from potential harm.
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