Lisbon - Cidade Universitária
The university buildings lie in the north of Lisbon, to the west of the Campo Grande parkland. A university was first founded in Lisbon in the 13th C. After Lisbon succeeded Coimbra as the capital city in the middle of the 13th C. Coimbra gained a university at the beginning of the 14th C. as "recompense" and this remained Portugal's only university until 1911, when Lisbon was once again given its own university. Plans for a university to be built on its present site arose in the 1930s, but the buildings, designed by Pardel Monteiri, were only constructed between 1955 and 1960.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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Things to See
Cidade Universitaria - Faculty of Arts
At the entrance to the Faculty of Arts, Fernando Pessoa's heteronyms designed by the artist Almada Negreiros are depicted.
Cidade Universitaria - Rector's Office
Until 1962 Marcelo Caetano, Salazar's successor, was rector of the university. The rector's office stands in the center of a wide lawn, with the Faculty of Law located to its south and the Faculty of Arts to its north.
National Library
Since 1969 the buildings of the National Library have been on the Campo Grande to the south of Cidade Universitaria. The National Library was founded in 1798 and was then housed on the newly built Praço do Comércio. Later it moved to Chiado. Parts of the library's collection originate from closed monasteries, religious foundations and institutes. The National Library now owns more than two million volumes, accommodated on approximately 45km/28miles of shelving - during the 20th C. its stock has increased almost five fold.
On the upper floors of the building can be found the so-called Museu do Livro (Book Museum) and the Museu Instrumental do Conservatório Nacional (Museum of Musical Instruments).
On the upper floors of the building can be found the so-called Museu do Livro (Book Museum) and the Museu Instrumental do Conservatório Nacional (Museum of Musical Instruments).
Torre do Tombo National Archive
Since 1990 a new building complex has stood next to the Faculty of Arts. This is the seat of the Torre do Tombo National Archive, which had been "provisionally" housed in the Palácio de Sao Bento since the earthquake of 1755. Transfer of the archive materials took place over several months. An area of 60,400sq.m/72,238sq.yd is available here and the archive's books and documents can be accommodated on 135.4km/84miles of shelving.
The National Archive was founded in 883, during the time of Moorish rule in Lisbon. The oldest document dates from that year. In 1375 Fernando I ordered that the collection of documents should be housed in a tower of the then royal seat, the Castelo de Sao Jorge, in the so called Torre do Tombo. Thanks to this fortunate move the archive was accommodated there at the time of the earthquake in 1755 and not at the new royal residence down by the Tagus, and thus many old documents and important manuscipts relating to Portuguese history have survived. Manuel da Maia, architect of the aqueduct who was heavily involved in the reconstruction of the city, brought the materials to safety from the ruins of the destroyed castle. Amongst the archive's possessions is the first document written in the Portuguese language, the testament of Afonso II from the early 13th C., a Hieronymite bible, which Manuel the "Happy" had ordered, as well as 36,000 records from the trials of the Inquisition.
The National Archive was founded in 883, during the time of Moorish rule in Lisbon. The oldest document dates from that year. In 1375 Fernando I ordered that the collection of documents should be housed in a tower of the then royal seat, the Castelo de Sao Jorge, in the so called Torre do Tombo. Thanks to this fortunate move the archive was accommodated there at the time of the earthquake in 1755 and not at the new royal residence down by the Tagus, and thus many old documents and important manuscipts relating to Portuguese history have survived. Manuel da Maia, architect of the aqueduct who was heavily involved in the reconstruction of the city, brought the materials to safety from the ruins of the destroyed castle. Amongst the archive's possessions is the first document written in the Portuguese language, the testament of Afonso II from the early 13th C., a Hieronymite bible, which Manuel the "Happy" had ordered, as well as 36,000 records from the trials of the Inquisition.
