The Cloisters of General Studies

From the Via Latina, you can reach the cloisters of the General Studies, where the Law Faculty is located today. They were built in six years, between 1696 and 1702, occupying part of the old Queen's wing, to create classrooms on the second floor, also called the main floor.

We can appreciate the sculptural work commissioned to Claude Laprade in the reliefs over the doors of the classrooms, allusive to the subjects taught there, such as Mathematics, Laws, Canons and Theology. The symbolism of the space was reinforced by six sculptures allegorical to the Faculties, which are today preserved in the Machado de Castro National Museum.

With the Pombaline reform of the University, starting in 1772, it was decided to remodel the General Studies. The then rector, D. Francisco de Lemos, considered the supervision of teaching important and, therefore, ordered the creation of a third floor, with balcony windows opening onto the cloister and with tribunes facing the classrooms. This surveillance gallery is still visible today from the tribunes.