Institutional - History

FLUP was founded by Leonardo Coimbra, who brought to fruition a long-standing desire of the University of Porto. During its first year, the Faculty trained 167 graduates in Classical Philology, Romance Philology, Germanic Philology, Historical and Geographical Sciences and Philosophy.

It initially worked in premises belonging to the Faculty of Sciences, then moved to Quinta Amarela (Rua Oliveira Monteiro, nº.833) and later occupied the facilities of Rua do Breyner, nº.16. At the same time, some of its courses were transferred to the former Medical School and Rua das Taipas.

As a result of various events that fuelled the political instability experienced at the time in the country, FLUP was formally abolished (by Decree no. 15.365 of 12 April 1928) before it could accomplish ten years of existence.

The last graduation exam was held on 29 July 1931, and from 1933 onwards, teachers from the then-defunct Faculty began working as temporary teachers in high schools.

During the forced hiatus the Faculty was subjected to, several cultural and political personalities fought for its restoration at regional and national levels. Their efforts were eventually rewarded in 1961, on the 50th anniversary of the University of Porto, with the official reopening of FLUP (Decree no. 43.864 of 17 August 1961).

Its activity resumed in the 1962-1963 academic year, with degrees in History and Philosophy and the Pedagogical Sciences course.

The momentum of its reopening would lead to the diversification and broadening of the training offered in various areas of the Humanities, with degrees in Romance Philology, Germanic Philology, Geography, Sociology and European Studies emerging between 1968 and 1996. From 1982 onwards, FLUP also offered postgraduate courses in various scientific fields, awarding a wide range of diplomas and academic degrees.

During this period of growth, the Faculty's activities were spread out over various spaces in the city of Porto, including the Palácio Burmester and the Seminário do Vilar.

FLUP was located in Rua do Campo Alegre, no.1055, until December 1995, before moving to its permanent and present building, in Via Panorâmica.

FLUP celebrated its 100th anniversary, becoming a centenary institution with a significant trajectory in the national academic sphere, both in terms of the excellence of its teaching, the rigour and diversity of its research and the external services it provides to the community.