Visiting PUCRS: what to do on campus during the holidays 

_{Photo: Jonathan Heckler}

Summer vacation is the perfect time to recharge your batteries and rest before the new semester begins. For those who want to enjoy the PUCRS campus on their days off, we have put together six suggestions for activities to do at the University during this period. Check them out:     

1) Special programming at the museum  

O Museum of Science and Technology PUCRS is promoting several activities during the month of February for all ages. Among them, Museum Vacation, which take place between February 3rd and 7th, as well as February 2th and 10th. The activities are from 14pm to 13pm and are aimed at children aged seven to 18. 

In addition, the Museum has three floors and a mezzanine full of fun and interactive experiences, so to make the most of this experience, remember that the average visiting time is 3 to 4 hours. 

2) Sports Park has a summer camp for children   

A Motiva-Ação Team Summer Camp takes place in Sports Park PUCRS between February 3 and 14. The activities are aimed at children aged five to 13: there will be games, competitions and activities to ensure fun, curiosity and motivation for the participants. 

In-person registration can be done at the reception of PUCRS Sports Park, from Monday to Friday, from 6:30 am to 22 pm; and on Saturdays, from 8 am to 15 pm. If online, request the registration form via Motiva-Ação's WhatsApp (51) 98015.3882 or (51) 99282.3996. 

3) The Library has no shortage of options for those who want to read during the holidays    

A Brother José Otão Central Library remains open during the holidays. With a large collection of books, theses, articles and various other materials, the Library has several reading options for students. For those who are in doubt, we have some recommendations:    

• É assim que acaba, by Collen Hoover – One of the most popular novels of recent times, “This is how it ends” tells the story of Lily, a young woman who moves to Boston and opens her own flower shop. In the new city she meets Ryan, an arrogant neurosurgeon who shows interest in Lily. However, the young woman cannot forget her first love Atlas, and when he reappears, the romance between Lily and Ryan is threatened.  

• Crooked Plow, by Itamar Vieira Junior – In this 2019 work, the author from Bahia transports us to the depths of the Bahian backlands and introduces us to the sisters Bibiana and Belonísia. The book narrates the hardships the girls have gone through, from the accident that changed their lives when they were still children, to the situation analogous to slavery that they both live in on a farm in the backlands of Chapada Diamantina.  

• Absence Mapper, Mia Couto – In this book by renowned African author Mia Couto, we are introduced to the history of Mozambique before and after independence through the family memories of the main character, Professor Diego Santiago, and his deceased father. Between the living and the dead, Diego revisits the characters who were part of his story. 

In addition, the Library also provides free training for academic work. Check it out here. 

4) University socialization spaces open to students   

On Campus, there is no shortage of places to relax, socialize and have fun. The lobby of building 15, Living 360º, is one of the most popular spaces for students to relax, study and study outside of class. It has study tables, armchairs, sofas, poufs, pool and ping-pong tables and arcade games. It is also where the PUCRS Store is located, right in front of the Bauducco cafeteria. There is also the ATL House, which has a pool table and video games, and is located in the annex of building 16. The ATL is also home to the Canal Café and, right next door, the Severo Garage.   

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5) Pianos scattered around the Campus  

How about taking advantage of your vacation to play (or learn to play) a musical instrument? The PUCRS Campus has six pianos that are available to be played at fixed times. They are located in the following locations: School of Humanities (Building 9), Polytechnic School (Building 30), Ir. José Otão Central Library (Building 16), Hospital São Lucas (Building 60) and Tecnopuc (Building 97A) and Living 360º. You can check out more information here.   

6) Outdoor murals color PUCRS spaces   

There are seven murals around the Campus, three of which are part of the project Open Air Gallery: two murals, one by Kelvin Koubik and the other by Paula Plim, are on walls near Rua da Cultura. The other mural, by Renan Santos, is located on the side wall of the School of Humanities building (building 8).   

In addition to these, there is also a mural in the Atelier of the Institute of Culture (ground floor of the Polytechnic School – building 30), made by the artist Manu Raupp. As the Atelier is closed during the holidays, the mural is only visible from the outside, but you can check it out in video by clicking here. At the School of Health and Life Sciences (building 12), the Liliths study group produced the Mural Women, Education, Science and Struggle. In building 5, it was created by the artist Apolo Torres. The most recent mural was completed in 2024 and was created by Uncle Trampo.