The Seminary of Saint Joana Princess is a landmark building that predates the foundation of the University of Aveiro and plays a foundational role in the physical and symbolic development of the campus. Designed by the architectural collective ARS Arquitectos—Fortunato Cabral, Morais Soares, and Cunha Leão—and constructed between 1942 and 1955, the seminary exemplifies the values of mid-20th-century Portuguese architecture: monumental scale, rational layout, and a strong institutional presence.

Located on the western edge of what later became Campus Santiago, the Seminary was one of the first permanent structures occupied by the University following its creation in 1973. While its formal language contrasts with the modernist and postmodern buildings later introduced by architects such as Rebello de Andrade & Espírito Santo, the seminary was carefully integrated into the university’s first urban plan, becoming a key orienting structure within the new academic landscape.

Today, the building stands as a powerful symbol of continuity—linking Aveiro’s educational and spiritual heritage with the university’s contemporary mission. Its reuse exemplifies the adaptive and inclusive spirit of the campus design, where historical architecture and modern planning coexist to shape a plural and richly layered environment for learning and cultural life.