Joanine library of the university of coimbra world. They come out each night and feast on any potentially harmful bugs that might damage the books. Visit the joanina library of coimbra, a beautiful portuguese library. At coimbras 18th century joanina library they keep bats to help preserve the books. The structure was built in the university courtyard on the ruins of a medieval royal prison. To the south, in mafra, a small colony of bats swoops among incunabula books.
The library at mafra national palace mafra, lisbon, portugal by nuno trindade photographer. Biblioteca joanina, coimbra university once referred to as the house of the bookshop coimbra universitys library is one of the top five libraries in the world. Alcobaca batalha and fatima with start nazare obidos and west region. Construction was started in 1717 at the instigation of king joao v, after whom the library is named, and was completed in 1728. The bats help preserve old books but they drive librarians, well, batty a 300yearold librarys resident bats eat the bugs that devour glue and paper, but theyre attracting more interest. Now, its time to focus a library that is simply one of the most beautiful libraries of the. Though bats are pests in many contexts, the ones who live in a coimbra, portugal library are welcome and necessary staff. The library is now considered a priceless national treasure of portugal. But do not think that bats make this library unhygienic.
This library, built in the early 18th century by king john the 5th, is known for its rich real gold baroque decor, and the plaster ceilings are decorated with allegorical trompeloeil paintings. Bats preserve books at johannine library features american. At biblioteca joanina and the mafra palace library, both, curiously, located in portugal, and both built in the 18th century, small bats, about an inch long, act as guards against book eating insects. They roost during the day behind the bookcases and come out at night. The building dates back to the 19th century and used to function as a store during the communist period. University of coimbra in central portugal, there are bats in the library. See more ideas about university, cozy reading rooms and vatican library. At biblioteca joanina and the mafra palace library, both, curiously, located in portugal, and both built in the 18th century, small bats, about an inch long, act. At night, they emerge to feed and preserve the books. Born in princeton, new jersey, brian lives on the south shore of massachusetts with his family. 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 something ive got to see. 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 from. Each bat that inhabits the valuable library of coimbra heritage of humanity.
Part of the night shift, these bats swoop through the stacks to eat gnats, flies, and more bugs that would otherwise destroy the rare books housed in the library. On this blog, we have talked about the wonderful lello bookshop, acclaimed all over the world. These portuguese libraries are infested with batsand they. What really caught our attention though, and the primary reason we made the trip, was the baroque library on the campus of the university. Two antique portuguese libraries use live bats as insect repellant. The bats come out at night to feast on any potential book destroying insects. Besides one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world, livraria lello in porto, theres also a few amazing libraries in portugal.
Why these libraries welcome the bat colonies that live. Biblioteca joanina is a baroque library situated in the heights of the historic centre of the university of coimbra, by the university. 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. Most libraries control such pests with ethylene oxide, methyl bromide, or gamma radiation, but the mafra palace library has a very special force of airborne defenders. It even has a friendly colony of bats to drive away insects that like to eat the books. Bats become library guardians balancing culture and nature the. Two antique portuguese libraries use live bats as insect. These portuguese libraries are infested with batsand they like it. Bats act as pest control at two old portuguese libraries smart. As the longest monastic library in the world, it houses over rare books among its shelves. The bats help preserve old books but they drive librarians. Biblioteca joanina is a baroque library situated in the heights of the historic centre of the university of coimbra, by the university tower.
Visit the joanina library at the university of coimbra in portugal at night and you might think the building has a bat problem. How bats protect rare books at this portuguese library mental. For more information and to experience an interactive dvd of the library, visit the biblioteca joanina website. The bat population regulates themselves based on the amount of food available, and the last baby bats were born about 5.
The bats help preserve old books but they drive librarians, well. 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. Joanine library in coimbra university this might be one of the best sacred places in the university of coimbra. There are two 18th century libraries in portugal that are bugfree thanks to the bats that live there. Biblioteca joanina coimbra university library coimbra.
In coimbra, a colony of common pipistrelle bats makes their home behind the bookshelves of the universitys joanina library, emerging at nightfall to. At night, a colony of bats eats insects that might otherwise harm the books and rare furniture at the university of coimbras johannine library. The library holds thousands of books, many of which are centuries old. The bats in the library are very interesting tripadvisor. For half a millennium, a colony of bats has lived and thrived in portugals venerable royal library located in coimbra. Once inside, older bats look for favorite books, while younger ones explore and play.
Its doubtful the bats at the university of coimbra library are this cute. No joke the bats live in nesting boxes inside the bookshelves. The university of coimbra never knew capes went out of style. Illustrated bats uphold role as custodians of portugals. Bats that call the library home do pest control to prevent moths from devouring the books.
The biblioteca joanina, or university library, is one of the most visited buildings in coimbras university complex. These portuguese libraries are infested with bats and they like. However, there is something more interesting about this library than just its appearance, and it has to do with how the library protects these aging manuscripts from insects that might feed on their pages. Bats act as pest control at two old portuguese libraries. These people have bats in their library that really is odd. Coimbra, portugalduring the day, as visitors file through the university of coimbras 300yearold joanina library, the creatures remain. An open library window is an invitation for a colony of bats in this sequel to bats at the beach 2006. The university of coimbras grand old biblioteca joanina houses both books and bats. They roost among the baroque details of the library decorations during the day. At the university of coimbra in central portugal, there are bats in the. 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. This 18th century library, though a part of the university of coimbra campus, is an attraction in its own right.
The johannine library is a baroque library situated in the heights of the historic centre of the university of coimbra, by the university tower. Portugals libraries are truly spectacular and they have some remarkable ways of. They live in gaps between the bookshelves and at night the tables are covered with leather to protect them from bat guano poop. A colony of bats live in the library walls, and the university welcomes them to do so.
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. 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. Coimbra library stock photos download 646 royalty free. Mafra palace library mafra, portugal atlas obscura. 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.
Storytime settles everyone down and transports them into the tales, filled with bat characters playing new roles. The worlds most beautiful and iconic libraries open to. Biblioteca joanina coimbra 2020 all you need to know. The secondfloor stacks in the library of the old university of coimbra. They use tiny bats in the library, instead of pesticides, to keep insects from eating their irreplaceable collection of ancient books.
Strangely enough, coimbras joanina isnt the only portuguese library with bats. In portugal, the places where we can find books are much more than a simple building. Heres why bats are the best employees in these baroque. The only problem is that all the tasty insects turn into bat poop. Curiously, the library also houses a colony of bats to protect the books they eat potentially harmful insects. Bats might be found winging their way around some special libraries in portugal. This stunning photograph is of the mafra palace library in portugal. 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. Halicarnassuss roman antiquities and past a 15thcentury book of. 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. 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. Its true that common pipistrelle bats live there, occupying the. He has written and illustrated more than twenty books for children.
In the morning the library is cleaned of bat guano. How bats protect rare books at this portuguese library. The bats help preserve old books but they drive librarians, well, batty via. Youll think im a little batty with this random list of fun bits of trivia about the university 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. Biblioteca joanina largo da porta ferrea 3000447 coimbra. Among their tens of thousands of books are some truly rare copies like the first. Coimbras joanina isnt the only portuguese library with bats.
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