This article represents the initial results of a micro-history survey of two health spaces and medical practice locations at the Augustinian Monastery of Santa Cruz de Coimbra, namely, the infirmary, or domus infirmorum and the São Nicolau Hospital. The first, built in the 12th century, was built within the area of the monastery, intended for the care of sick monks, and was defined in the regulations of the foundation and then through the subsequent Customary practices or Liber ordinis. The second, São Nicolau Hospital, was also founded sometime during mid 12th century, and operated like the other medieval charitable hospitals, i.e. it provided shelter for pilgrims, took in the poor, and treated the sick and infirm. These two spaces favored medical studies, as evidenced by the titles in the library; at the same time, they were places of experimentation into preventive measures and therapeutic practices.
monastic medicine; Monastery of Santa Cruz de Coimbra; Middle Ages; São Nicolau Hospital
