Coimbra Municipal Museum with a special program for the International Day for Monuments and Sites.

The Coimbra City Council is marking the 2026 International Day for Monuments and Sites (April 18) with a series of initiatives taking place on Friday and Saturday, April 17 and 18. This year, the theme proposed by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) – “Living Heritage: Emergency Response in Conflict and Disaster Contexts” – serves as the framework for a program that values ​​the memory, identity, and resilience of cultural heritage. Over two days, guided tours, a journey through the Jewish presence in Coimbra, a musical performance, and a historical gastronomy workshop dedicated to chocolate in the 18th century are planned.

The program begins on Friday, April 17th, at 5:00 PM, with a guided tour of the Torre de Anto, offering a historical context for this emblematic space, including a presentation by the Coimbra Guitar and Fado Group. At 6:00 PM, there will be a musical performance by the Fado D’Anto group, open to the general public and free of charge, subject to confirmation.

On Saturday, April 18th, the celebrations continue at 10:30 AM with the activity “The visit goes to the streets!”, a route through the urban space once occupied by the Jewish Quarters of Coimbra, which will showcase the history of the Jewish presence in the city. This initiative, part of the Interreg Jewels project, begins on Rua Corpo de Deus, next to Rua Visconde da Luz, and ends at the Inquisition Building. It is open to the general public, with a limited number of participants.

In the afternoon, at 4:00 PM, the Chiado Building will host the workshop “The Ritual of Chocolate in the 18th Century and the Chinese Porcelain of the Telo de Morais Collection,” a historical gastronomy workshop inviting participants to discover the role of chocolate in Baroque Europe. The activity includes a historical approach to its introduction and social value, as well as the tasting of an 18th-century recipe. This workshop is a result of a partnership with the Coimbra School of Hospitality and Tourism, Chocolataria Equador, and the Beauty Academy.

Registration for the activities of the commemorative program for the International Day for Monuments and Sites, developed by the Museology Division of the Coimbra City Council, can be done by phone at 239 840 754 or by email at [email protected].

With this program, the Municipality of Coimbra reinforces its commitment to the appreciation and dissemination of cultural heritage, promoting experiences that bring citizens closer to the history and identity of the city.