Coimbra has a 700-year-old university which was modeled after Bologna's university (Europe's first, A.D. 1139). They taught law, medicine, grammar and logic and later added seafaring orientation, astronomy and geometry as Portugal became a major maritime power. This is the Irongate, which is where all students entered into the school
Go through the Irongate and you see this beautiful main building and the clock tower.
These halliards and swords are in the Grand Hall.
The Grand Hall where lectures were delivered. Still used for ceremonial events.
The Master's Hall, where pictures of the rectors of the school are shown.
Outside looking at the quad. That's the Grand Hall and the statue of King John is to the right.
A view of King John from the other side.
The chapel where church is still conducted. They were having a reunion while we were there and we had to wait to get in to get this photo. The folks appeared to be 50 year reunion class.
The pipe organ in the Capilla.
This is the library. They allow folks in on a 20-minute tour. Books are ancient and they want to keep the humidity and temperature constant to protect them.
Speaking of books. This school is 700 years old, so some of these books are a bit older. This represented one of the major libraries in Europe in the middle ages.
A beautiful library table.
A look up at the ceiling in the library.
The students wear these black capes during their senior year. Students volunteer to help with the tourists and here you see a couple of students talking with some.
One of the students conned Sallie into buying a card from him to help pay for his graduation. He then offered to have a photo with her. He asked my permission to put his arm around her. Notice the shredded edge of his cape. Each tear is a girlfriend loved and lost.
Just as we came out of the Irongate we saw this young bride arriving in this ancient car. She was going to get married in the capilla for the university.