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Cabinet of Curiosities at the University of Coimbra

One of the oldest universities in the world exhibits thousands of specimens from its 700-year-old collection.

Coimbra, Portugal

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mattboris
  mattboris / Atlas Obscura User
  mattboris / Atlas Obscura User
  mattboris / Atlas Obscura User
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With no explanatory captions to be found, the Cabinet of Curiosities at the Science Museum of the University of Coimbra artfully rearranges a 700-year-old museum collection.

Inspired by 18th-century curiosity cabinets, the display includes taxidermy (from monkeys and birds to manatees), natural history specimens preserved in jars, minerals, cultural artifacts, rare skeletons, and a stuffed donkey with six legs. 

Few museums worldwide would have such an extensive collection to draw from—the items on display represent less than 1 percent of the museum's collection—and not many science museum displays are designed purely to invoke wonder.  

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Science Science Museums Curio Cabinets Museums
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Published

April 16, 2025

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