Portugal Dos Pequenitos

Portugal dos Pequenitos, whose name means Portugal of the Little Ones, is a miniature world on the banks of the Mondego in Coimbra. It was the idea of Bissaya Barreto, a prominent doctor and philanthropist who devoted much of his career to children's welfare, and it opened in 1940, the year of the great Exhibition of the Portuguese World in Lisbon. The architect Cassiano Branco designed the first buildings, and the park has been expanded several times since. It has been delighting children, and many adults, for generations.

The park is built at the scale of a child, around a third to half the size of real buildings, so that small visitors can walk into the houses, climb the stairs and look out of the windows. The first part is devoted to Portuguese houses from different regions, each designed in the local style, from the stone cottages of the north to the whitewashed houses of the Alentejo and the Algarve. Another area brings together models of famous monuments, including castles, palaces, churches and the Tower of Belém, so that you can see the country's architecture from the Minho to the south in a single afternoon. The scale makes it possible to appreciate the detail, such as the carved Manueline windows and the tile patterns.

Further sections are dedicated to the Portuguese-speaking world. Pavilions represent Brazil, Africa, Macau, Goa and Timor, as well as the Atlantic islands of Madeira and the Azores, with houses and monuments from each, and displays on culture, clothing and craftsmanship. These areas show how Portuguese influence spread, and they offer a starting point for conversations with children about history, though the park was created in the mid-20th century and reflects the outlook of that time.

Gardens, ponds and shady corners fill the space between the models, and there are play areas where children can run and climb. A cafe and a shop sit within the park. Plan on about two to three hours for a relaxed visit, longer if you are with children who love to explore. The ground is mostly flat and easy for pushchairs, though a few areas have steps.

The park is a short walk from the Santa Clara convents on the left bank of the river, and across the bridge lies the historic centre of Coimbra, with its famous university, the Joanine Library, the Old Cathedral and the Machado de Castro museum. A day in the city can combine the university and the old town in the morning with the park in the afternoon. Tickets are sold at the entrance, and prices change, so check current rates and hours. Summer can be hot, and the park offers limited shade at midday, so bring a hat. It suits families with children of primary-school age, as well as grown-ups with a taste for the whimsical.