Coimbra City Council acquires 16th century house in historic center

The Coimbra City Council (CM) formalized today, August 20, the deed for the acquisition of two properties located on Rua do Sargento-Mor, next to the Adro de Cima, in the heart of the city’s historic center. The buildings are a “rare example” of a 16th century townhouse, representative of a type of housing that has practically disappeared in Portugal. The total value of the purchase was 170,000 euros.

The “Medieval House” – so named in the technical documentation – is located in the UNESCO World Heritage area and is covered by several Special Protection Zones. The operation aims to ensure the preservation and enhancement of an asset considered to be of high historical, symbolic and architectural value. The building is distinguished by its volume and traditional structure, consisting of a first floor and three upper floors, having been used for a variety of purposes over time, including housing, commerce and industry.

In the opinion accompanying the process, Luísa Trindade, who holds a PhD in Art History and is a lecturer at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Coimbra, says that this is a “rare example of ordinary urban housing from the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Modern Period”, with elements such as sobrados and projecting façades, typical of that period. The expert also stresses that Coimbra cannot “miss the opportunity to promote, in a qualified way, the ‘Medieval House’ (the more correct designation would be ‘House of the 16th century type’) as another fundamental piece of its historic center, which since 2013 has been inscribed on the list of World Heritage properties.”

The municipal technical services reinforce this understanding, classifying the property as an “architectural and urban testimony of high heritage value”. Its integration into the municipal heritage network is seen as a strategic opportunity to reinforce the city’s historical identity, and its future inclusion in cultural, educational and tourist itineraries is planned.

The deed took place this afternoon in the Sílvio Pélico Room at Coimbra City Hall. Present were the notary, the heirs and legal representatives of the property and the mayor, José Manuel Silva.

Photo credits: Coimbra City Council | João Sobral and Nuno Ávila

CM of Coimbra acquires 16th century house in historic center – coimbra.pt