Til the university library of coimbra pt has a colony of. These people have bats in their library that really is odd. There is an old 1700s university here and we got to visitt the library. Because really, when i read about a library that was built between 1717 1728 and houses something along the lines of 40,000 books which are in part protected by bats bats eat moths its just. Heres why bats are the best employees in these baroque. The bats of the medieval city of coimbra, portugal, seemed to have abandoned the dark ages for the enlightenment. At the university of coimbra in central portugal, there are bats in the. Visitors can enter the building above and admire the beautiful art and ornate decor. Among their tens of thousands of books are some truly rare copies like the first.
Though they once lived in caves, they now reside in rather opulent digs. Storytime settles everyone down and transports them into the tales, filled with bat characters playing new roles. Coimbra library stock photos download 646 royalty free. When i climbed the narrow steps to the second level of the library, just to have a better view and to understand its enormous amount of books, 57,000 the university tour guide leaned toward me and whispered that behind these shelves of books there is a real school of bats. The bats help preserve old books but they drive librarians, well. Visit the joanina library at the university of coimbra in portugal at night and you might think the building has a bat problem. Its construction started in 1717, and was completed in 1728.
The library is now considered a priceless national treasure of portugal. Construction was started in 1717 at the instigation of king joao v, after whom the library is named, and was completed in 1728. Bats eat the insects around the books in the johannine library of the university of coimbra in joanine library building in the old university, in coimbra. These portuguese libraries are infested with batsand they. Even when the bats arent showing off, the library is worth on a. Old university from left bank of river mondego, coimbra. Bats eat the insects around the books in the johannine library of the university of coimbra in small bat in window of johannine library at university of coimbra.
When the university was first founded by king dinis in 1290 it was on two sites, coimbra and lisbon, and stayed like that. However, the increasing number of volumes and the passage of time have taken a toll on the centuriesold symbiosis between bats and books. The visit was brief and was a stop during the viking river cruises portugals river of gold itinerary, a welcomed break on the drive between lisbon and porto. The secondfloor stacks in the library of the old university of coimbra. And students mark the initiation of their academic life, as. See more ideas about university, cozy reading rooms and vatican library. For more information and to experience an interactive dvd of the library, visit the biblioteca joanina website. According to a university of coimbra source contacted by. The structure was built in the university courtyard. Two antique portuguese libraries use live bats as insect repellant. There are two 18th century libraries in portugal that are bugfree thanks to the bats that live there. High ceilings, golden decoration and exotic materials from all over the world. In this area you can renew the loan period of the books requested.
These portuguese libraries are infested with batsand they like it. A mass is celebrated here every sunday as well as weddings for the. Coimbra, portugalduring the day, as visitors file through the university of coimbras 300yearold joanina library, the creatures remain hidden behind the grand, gilded bookcases. The library holds thousands of books, many of which are centuries old. Bats act as pest control at two old portuguese libraries smart.
One of them, the exquisite library joanina, a jewel of coimbra, is famous for its gorgeous interior, rare copies of important books from the 16th, 17th and 18th century, but also for its diligent employees a colony of bats that are keeping the books safe. Dec 5, 2015 the university of coimbra general library, portugal. A colony of bats live in the library walls, and the university welcomes them to do so. Discover the old capital of portugal, coimbra, on a private walking tour around the city. Bats act as pest control at two old portuguese libraries. Two antique portuguese libraries use live bats as insect. Library and the joanina library at coimbra university are two historically and. Since october 1537, the university of coimbra has occupied buildings, which for over four centuries, was the royal palace of coimbra. Brian lies is the caldecott honorwinning authorillustrator of new york times bestsellers bats at the beach, bats at the library, bats at the ballgame, and bats in the band.
In the morning the library is cleaned of bat guano. How bats protect rare books at this portuguese library mental. Strangely enough, coimbras joanina isnt the only portuguese library with bats. Joanina library at the university of coimbra is the biggest draw for visitors to coimbra, but the university of coimbra itself holds many treasures for visitors to discover. Today it is one of the most significant archival libraries in the world and contains some 56,000 books, including some rare books such as biblical books and rare editions. At the university of coimbra in central portugal, there are bats in the library. The university of coimbra never knew capes went out of style. The universitys baroque library is coimbras headline sight. Coimbra, portugalduring the day, as visitors file through the university of coimbras 300yearold joanina library, the creatures remain. What really caught our attention though, and the primary reason we made the trip, was the baroque library on the campus of the university. The bats help preserve old books but they drive librarians. Learn about the rich history of this ancient city as you visit key landmarks such as the university of coimbra, the new and old cathedrals, the monastery of santa cruz located in the moorish part of the city, the old jewish quarter, and santa clara a velha convent, where queen isabel lived and.
The library of the university of coimbra has markedly a rococo style, being one of the most original baroque libraries in europe. The bats help preserve old books but they drive librarians, well, batty a 300yearold library s resident bats eat the bugs that devour glue and paper, but theyre attracting more interest. This library is located in the historically academic city of coimbra, at the international school of the university of coimbra palacio da univerdades. Biblioteca joanina coimbra university library coimbra. Both built in the 1700s, the portuguese mafra palace library and the joanina library at coimbra university are two historically and architecturally significant landmarks that double as treasure troves of a wealth of information. Biblioteca joanina is a baroque library situated in the heights of the historic centre of the university of coimbra, by the university. Bats become library guardians balancing culture and nature the. Biblioteca joanina, located on the grounds of the university of coimbra in the city of coimbra, and the palace library in the palace of mafra, not far from lisbon. The university of coimbra general library, portugal. Joanine library in coimbra university i was surprised to learn there are real bats hiding behind the book shelves, and help to keep the moth away from the books. Youll think im a little batty with this random list of fun bits of trivia about the university of coimbra. Why these libraries welcome the bat colonies that live.
By using this website, you agree with the cookie policy. Biblioteca joanina is a baroque library situated in the heights of the historic centre of the university of coimbra, by the university tower. Intended to meet requests for information and bibliographic research. The bats help preserve old books but they drive librarians, well, batty via. Built in the early eighteenth century at the behest of portugals king john v, the joanine library was constructed to house the book collection of the university of coimbra. Its true that common pipistrelle bats live there, occupying the.
In coimbra, a colony of common pipistrelle bats makes their home behind the bookshelves of the university s joanina library, emerging at nightfall to consume flies and gnats and other pests. Biblioteca joanina, the library at the university of coimbra. These portuguese libraries are infested with bats and. How bats protect rare books at this portuguese library. Biblioteca joanina largo da porta ferrea 3000447 coimbra. During the day, as visitors file through the university of coimbras 300yearold joanina library, the creatures remain hidden behind the grand, gilded bookcases. Built in the early 18 th century, this precious library shows everything that baroque portugal had to offer. Each bat that inhabits the valuable library of coimbra heritage of humanity. They come out each night and feast on any potentially harmful bugs that might damage the books. General library of university of coimbra university of. Portugals libraries are truly spectacular and they have some remarkable ways of. Provided with copies of the rarest bibliographic collections, the baroque library presents a collection of collections these collections date from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries and in its majority represent the best available in the cultured europe of that time. Once inside, older bats look for favorite books, while younger ones explore and play. He has written and illustrated more than twenty books for children.
Campbell and pryce found that these ageold institutions act as. Joanina library, portugal mnn mother nature network. To the south, in mafra, a small colony of bats swoops among incunabula books printed prior to 1501 at the 18thcentury library at the national palace of mafra before flitting out into the nearseaside air. Visit the joanina library at coimbra university and it will answer your question.
These portuguese libraries are infested with bats and they like it that way. Leather sheets are used to cover the furniture from batty poop. This uses cookies that do not gather any personal information whatsoever. Besides one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world, livraria lello in porto, theres also a few amazing libraries in portugal. The architecture is ornate, and the inside is furnished with blacklacquered shelves, wood carvings, and gold and has rose, white, and grey marble tiles. An open library window is an invitation for a colony of bats in this sequel to bats at the beach 2006. In coimbra, a colony of common pipistrelle bats makes their home behind the bookshelves of the universitys joanina library, emerging at nightfall to consume flies and gnats and other pests.
Another portuguese beauty patrolled by bats, the stunning 18th century baroque joanina library at the university of coimbra contains about 250,000 volumes, mostly works of medicine, geography. Til the university library of coimbra pt has a colony of bats living there to protect their books from insects. Once referred to as the house of the bookshop coimbra universitys library is one of the top five libraries in the world. Born in princeton, new jersey, brian lives on the south shore of massachusetts with his family. The bats come out at night to feast on any potential book destroying insects. They use tiny bats in the library, instead of pesticides, to keep insects from eating their irreplaceable collection of ancient books. Two libraries in portugal employ bats to keep the bugs in check by eating them. Its doubtful the bats at the university of coimbra library are this cute. I actually got to sleep 2 hours this afternoon so feel good enough to pop up a post. Biblioteca joanina coimbra 2020 all you need to know. The university of coimbra s grand old biblioteca joanina houses both books and bats.
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