What’s with the students sporting long black capes?
A little research and I’ve got a vague answer. The black cape has been a university student’s uniform here for 500 years. “Here” being Coimbra but also seen in Lisbon and Porto as well. Why a black cape? As opposed to some kind of hat or other apparel? Dunno.
Not hard to imagine swarms of young Hogwarts striding up and down these ancient sunken cobblestone paths, black robes flapping in the wind and swirling the mist. I am keeping an eye out for Mr. Potter and his gang. And Professor Severus Snape.
It is easy to see how J.K. Rowling’.s time in Portugal influenced her writing. From the hulking medieval castles and churches to beautiful bookstores to cape-adorned students.
These days, for Portuguese students, capes play a part in freshman hazing activities but are otherwise optional for everyday wear, although required at certain University events. Certainly would be a convenient way to smuggle in forbidden items, tucked into the folds of one’s cloak. But I imagine the capes must be heavy. Like wearing a couple of dumbbells on your shoulders.
I remember the students in black capes when we visited Coimbra. They were selling ribbons right as we pulled up on the bus. We also visited the library there who only let in ten people per hour to keep the humidity down. At night they covered the tables so the bats would eat the mosquitoes. Books dated back to 1600’s.