Colégio Valsassina

Amidst the bustling cityscape, lies Colégio Valsassina. It stands as a testament to the enduring power of education. The story of Colégio Valsassina begins in 1898. A determined teacher, Susana Augusta Duarte, established a small primary school on Rua de Santa Marinha. After marrying fellow educator Frederico César Ramos Monte Cembra de Valsassina, their educational vision expanded. They extended their offerings to include high school level instruction. As the student body grew, the school, then known as Escola Moderna, moved to Benfica. World War I, the Spanish Flu pandemic, and a severe economic crisis forced its closure in 1918. Undeterred, Professor Valsassina reopened in 1919. He offered individual tutoring. The school eventually relocated to Praça Luís de Camões. In 1932, now officially “Escola Valsassina”, it found a home on Avenida António Augusto de Aguiar, offering primary school and study rooms. Colégio Valsassina truly took shape in 1934 within the grand Palácio Lousã. This move marked a significant expansion, encompassing kindergarten, primary, and high school, accommodating around 300 students. From the late 1940s until 1959, it housed about 80 students as a boarding school. In 1948, the Quinta das Teresinhas, a historic four-hectare estate, became the school’s permanent home. A summer camp, hosting over 60 students, was also established in Azenhas do Mar. Between 1948 and 1959, two branches operated: Colégio Valsassina on Avenida António Augusto de Aguiar, and Colégio Suzana de Valsassina at Quinta das Teresinhas. They merged in 1959, consolidating operations at the Quinta das Teresinhas with 500 students, including boarders. By the late 1960s, enrollment reached 1,000. Four new pavilions were built: high school, kindergarten, boarding, and gymnasium. The architects were Raul Francisco Tojal and Manuel Carvalho. Following the Carnation Revolution, the boarding school and summer camp closed. Colégio Valsassina continued to flourish, reaching its current capacity. It earned “pedagogical parallelism” in 1976 and “pedagogical autonomy” in 1984 (extended to the entire institution in 1986). Colégio Valsassina’s motto, “Per ardua surgo” (“Through adversity I rise”), embodies its unwavering commitment to excellence. Today, with about 1,300 students, Colégio Valsassina continues its legacy as a leading educational institution.