Coimbra celebrated the strength of the Portuguese Language with 'A Day for Camões'
The event brought together more than 400 students at Convento São Francisco to celebrate the poet's legacy.
More than 400 students filled the D. Afonso Henriques Hall at Convento São Francisco to celebrate 'A Day for Camões in Coimbra' - Um dia para Camões em Coimbra. The event, organised by the University of Coimbra (UC), Coimbra City Council (CMC), and the Union of Portuguese Language Capital Cities (UCCLA), brought together leading figures from Lusophone literature and culture in honour of the 500th anniversary of Luís de Camões’ birth. The initiative featured Camões Prize-winning writers Hélia Correia and Germano Almeida, along with a statement by Manuel Alegre, read by the event’s moderator, journalist and poet José Carlos Vasconcelos.
Paula Leal da Silva, Deputy Secretary-General of UCCLA, emphasised how the connection between a writer from 500 years ago and today’s youth is possible, stating: “Great geniuses, especially Luís de Camões, are timeless. Camões remains relevant today and should be presented to new generations as a living reference, able to portray Portugal’s identity, as well as its emotions, enchantment, and melancholy—everything that defines who we are. That is why, when we read him, we rediscover ourselves. Culture cannot be a duty; it must be a pleasure.”
The Rector of the University of Coimbra, Amílcar Falcão, highlighted the significance of the event and the poet’s connection to the institution: “It is a privilege to celebrate Camões in the same year that the University of Coimbra marks the 735th anniversary of its foundation and the 700th anniversary of the death of its founder, King Dinis.”
Amílcar Falcão stressed the poet’s strong ties to Coimbra, stating that “in the case of the University of Coimbra, the figure of Camões is intertwined with an essential cornerstone of the institution’s history”—a decisive factor in UNESCO’s inscription of the University of Coimbra, Alta, and Sofia on the World Heritage List in 2013. The Rector added that this distinction "recognises the central importance of intangible heritage, as well as the role of the University and the city of Coimbra in disseminating and safeguarding the Portuguese language and culture".”
Held on 12 February, the event reaffirmed Luís de Camões as a symbol of the Portuguese language and underscored the importance of keeping his work alive.
