Coimbra reports extensive vandalism in World Heritage zone

The municipality of Coimbra has identified 435 instances of graffiti and vandalism across more than 5,700 square meters of surfaces within its World Heritage site and buffer zone. The affected areas include the University of Coimbra and the Alta and Sofia districts.

In a notable incident, the Museu Nacional Machado de Castro (MNMC) was vandalized just three days after a specialized cleaning operation costing approximately 70,000 euros was completed. This cleaning was part of a larger 3.2 million euro requalification project funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR). The museum's director, Sandra Costa Saldanha, expressed frustration, noting that repeated cleaning procedures can cause material wear on the building's masonry, metal, and stone facades.

To combat the issue, the Coimbra City Council is acquiring new graffiti removal machinery and seeking a specialized contract to address both existing and new occurrences. Local authorities are also encouraging private property owners to file criminal complaints and are considering increased measures such as improved public lighting, video surveillance, and enhanced municipal police presence.