The General Library of the University of Coimbra was established before 1513 and contains one of the most remarkable and innovative library buildings of Europe of the early eighteenth century, the Joanina library.

The library has defined itself as a “public library” for centuries.

It was one of the first libraries in Europe to provide subject catalogues (1743) and never allowed any censorship in darker periods. Many documents of European significance are kept here.

Find out more about the selection of the site from the panel's report.