Joanina Library 20. Biblioteca Joanina (Portugal)
🦇 The Joanina Library in Portugal 🇵🇹, guarded by bats, was built by King João V of Portugal, which is why it’s often called the "Library of King João V." ✨ The Joanina Library is a treasure of the University of Coimbra in Portugal. Constructed in the early 18th century under the orders of King João V, it stands as a dazzling testament to Portugal’s golden age—gleaming like a vault of knowledge and opulence. 🚪 Step inside, and the moment you push open its three grand doors, it’s like stepping back 300 years in time. The Baroque extravagance hits you—elaborate wood carvings, gold leaf, and mythological figures painted across the ceiling, all exuding a wild, untamed elegance. The warm glow of light reflects off brass and aged wood, making it feel as if countless eyes are watching from the shadows. The books? They stand tightly packed on the shelves, each one a silent elder, observing the passage of time with quiet wisdom. 📜 The collection here is legendary—around 70,000 volumes, covering law, theology, philosophy, and even rare manuscripts from centuries past. These books aren’t just containers of words; they’re handcrafted masterpieces, each carrying the warmth and artistry of their era. 🦇 To protect these priceless treasures, the library has a brilliant secret weapon—bats! By day, they sleep high above, unnoticed by visitors. By night, they flutter about, feasting on insects that could harm the books. It’s a self-sustaining, centuries-old pest control system, passed down through generations. ⏳ The Joanina Library is a living time capsule. Inside, the world slows down. The noise of cars and footsteps fades away, replaced by the soft rustle of air between shelves and the faint scent of aged paper and ink. Like a wise old sage, the library sits calmly within the ancient university—neither boastful nor lonely. It doesn’t rush; it simply guards the books and the forgotten stories of distant times. 📚✨🦇🏛️💫📖 #Travel #Library #WorldHeritage #History #Portugal #BookLovers
