Visiting Portugal dos Pequenitos

This December, we visited Coimbra for the first time with our son. Of course, the main goal of our trip was to visit Portugal dos Pequenitos, a theme park for children. Unfortunately, we were not lucky with the weather, but the rain didn’t stop us from visiting places. We were able to borrow an umbrella from our hotel, and my son was actually excited about the rain, as in the Algarve, where we live, it rains only rarely.

To enter the park, we bought tickets on the spot. In our case, for two adults and one child, it was around €40. The park is aimed mostly for children, but because of its historical and educational value, it’s an interesting place for adults as well.

The park’s official mobile app allows visitors to select routes and then guides them through different parts of Portugal. This makes the visit easier, helping you plan your time and allowing you to choose the points of your interest. After entering a building, you can enter its number into the app and get access to multimedia content.

As we visited in the month of December, everything had a Christmas atmosphere, beautifully decorated, including a majestic Christmas tree adorned with Kit Kat chocolates.

A Journey Through Portuguese-Speaking Countries

Portugal dos Pequenitos consists of several parts. We started by visiting buildings that take you to Portuguese-speaking countries – Timor, Macau, India, Brazil, African countries and others, reminding us of Portugal’s former colonies, as well as the Azores islands or Madeira. Here, you truly feel as if you have stepped into these countries, as they portray the local architecture, culture and nature in a really authentic way.

At the entrance, visitors can also purchase a “passport”, where all countries found in the park are shortly described. In each building, children can get a stamp on their passport as proof of their visit. It’s a small detail that makes a big difference for younger visitors.

Interactive Fun for Children

This project is amazing for kids of all ages. My son is only four, but he was very interested in the interactive games, which are great for stimulating creativity. Children can listen to different animal sounds, watch videos from various cultures or enjoy a large projector showing the Brazilian Amazon forest. At each pavilion, there is also a possibility to send an electronic postcard from different parts of the world. You only need to know the recipient’s email address.

Because we visited before Christmas, there was an opportunity to bake “biscoitos de Natal” (Christmas cookies), which was a lovely family activity. We could make several and return a few minutes later to pick them up once baked. This was a really nice experience for my son.

After this, we arrived at a large panel with the world map. Here we could see all the places Portuguese explorers discovered. At the top of the map is the phrase "And if there were more worlds, I would get there." This quote by Luís de Camões represents the "spirit of exploration and expansion of the Portuguese Empire."

Another stop worth mentioning is the Costume Museum, a place where you can discover traditional Portuguese clothing, showcasing Portuguese heritage and regional diversity.

We also really enjoyed the miniature houses representing famous buildings and monuments throughout Portugal, such as the Belém tower, and replicas of traditional houses from different regions. This is an entertaining part for children, as they can explore houses built to their own size.

Due to the time of the year, there were only a few other visitors, but on sunny days, it can get really busy, so it is recommended to visit in the morning or on weekdays.

History of Portugal dos Pequenitos

Portugal dos Pequenitos was founded in 1940 by the doctor Bissaya Barreto and built by architect Cassiano Branco. Bissaya Barreto was famous for social work in the central region of Portugal, providing extensive help for those in need. He created the Bissaya Barreto Foundation, which was responsible for a series of cultural activities and social work. The building of Portugal dos Pequenitos was an integral part of this project.

Portugal dos Pequenitos reflects the local identities and multiculturalism in an interactive and engaging way. It is a wonderful place for both locals and tourists to learn more about Portugal and its history at their own pace.

To discover more about the park and learn about their special daily activities, visit the website https://www.fbb.pt/pp/