Coimbra Municipal Museum presents educational and cultural program for October

The Coimbra Municipal Museum (MMC) has prepared a diverse programme of educational and cultural initiatives for October, aimed at schools, families, and the general public. The programme, promoted by the Coimbra City Council, includes themed workshops, theatrical visits, urban walks, and temporary exhibitions.

The month opens on October 2 at the Chiado Building with the workshop “Animals in the Collection!”, developed in celebration of World Farm Animal Day. The activity invites preschool and primary school children to identify animal representations in pieces from the municipal collection, reflecting on habitats and essential care. Sessions run from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, lasting one hour each.

On October 7, the Almedina Tower hosts the workshop “From the Tower, the Land Was Defended!”, designed for primary and lower secondary students, focusing on medieval military defence mechanisms. Sessions run from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, by registration. On the same day, the general public is invited to join the walking tour “Along Coimbra’s Lost Wall”.

On October 8, the theatrical visit “D. Sesnando, the Alvazil of Coimbra” takes place at the Almedina Tower – Walled City Nucleus. This activity will now be held monthly, on the second Wednesday of each month, and is available for preschool and primary school groups, by registration.

On World Food Day, October 16, the Chiado Building welcomes back the workshop “Soup at the Museum? Really?”, a classic in the museum’s educational programme, available until the end of the school year. Inspired by works from the Telo de Morais painting collection, young participants (preschool and primary school) will imagine and “prepare” a collective soup, reflecting on food, art, and sharing. Sessions run from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, by registration.

The month concludes on October 31 with the workshop “The Tower’s Enchanted Secrets” at the Anto Tower, celebrating Halloween. With lanterns in hand, young children are invited to explore the medieval building, linking Halloween’s imagination to the city’s cultural heritage. The activity ends with a joyful musical moment. It is intended for preschool and primary school groups, with one-hour sessions from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, by registration.

In addition to these activities, guided visits continue for lower and upper secondary students across various museum sites: “Curiosities of Coimbra” and the Telo de Morais Collection (Chiado Building); “Medieval Coimbra” and “Isabel: The Queen and Her Time” (Almedina Tower); History of Coimbra’s Fado (Anto Tower); and “Jews of Coimbra – From Tolerance to Persecution” (Inquisition Building). All activities run from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, in regular sessions of 60 to 90 minutes, by prior registration.

For the general public, during the exhibition “I, Dona Isabel, Queen of Portugal”, on display until May 23, 2026, a thematic map is available for a self-guided tour through the city, exploring emblematic sites linked to Isabel of Aragon’s presence.

On October 7 at 10:30 AM, the walking tour “Along Coimbra’s Lost Wall” will take place, starting at the Almedina Tower. Participants will explore the city’s medieval defensive structure. The activity is open to the general public and secondary school students and requires registration.

On October 18 at 3:30 PM, the visit “The Visit Goes Outdoors!” will explore the areas once occupied by Coimbra’s Jewish Quarters, between Rua Corpo de Deus and the Inquisition Building. This initiative, part of the “Interreg Jewels” project, is open to the general public (groups of five to 25 participants) and requires registration.

Throughout October, visitors can also enjoy two temporary exhibitions: “Transversalidades’24 – Photography Without Borders”, open until October 18, and “A Man Among Men”, open until October 25.

As usual, on October 24, entry to the Coimbra Municipal Museum and its sites is free of charge.

All activities are free and intended for groups of at least five participants. Groups may consist of school classes or families (parents or guardians with children), with the adult responsible for registration also responsible for group supervision. Registrations can be made via phone at +351 239 840 754 or by email at [email protected].