Although the number of young people who will join the University of Coimbra during this month is not known yet, one thing is for sure: after the freshmen will come the doctors and the praxe will follow these two groups wherever they go. September is the month that marks the entry of thousands of freshmen at the University of Coimbra, one of the most prestigious universities in Europe.
The institution, recently declared World Heritage by UNESCO, has students from over 90 countries, providing a unique experience to both pupils and visitors. You’ll certainly have the chance to check it out by yourself.
Being a reference in the panorama of higher education and research, the University founded in 1290 is also a hub of tradition and, therefore, the praxe couldn’t be left behind. So during this month you’ll be able to watch the integration of new freshmen in their courses through the traditional methods of the praxe académica, which was born in Coimbra several centuries ago.
Coimbra’s praxe has its own insignia and a special code that defines the possible “rules” when we talk about an activity as fun and wild as this one. Its motto – Dura Praxis, Sed Praxis,equivalent to “the praxe is hard, but it’s the praxe” – says almost everything. Upon entetring the University of Coimbra, the new students have to do everything their doctors command, from trimming bushes with butter knives to cramming ten people into a small phone booth.
And the best part is that visitors strolling through Coimbra can watch it all, as long as they dedicate their days to discover the most typical areas of the city like the University, the Monumental Stairs, Jardim da Sereia or Praça da República. Don’t lose a thing: experience one of the most important traditions of the city by walking through Coimbra’s historical center and you can be sure you’ll stumble on tradition.
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