Trinity College & Book of Kells
Trinity College & Book of Kells features on the Gingerguide audio walk through Dublin. Give it roughly ~90 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type university
- Suggested visit ~90 min
- Dublin Dublin guide
About Trinity College & Book of Kells
Ireland's oldest university, founded in 1592, home to the breathtaking Long Room library and the 9th-century illuminated Book of Kells.
Trinity College Dublin was founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I on the grounds of a dissolved Augustinian priory, making it Ireland's oldest and most prestigious university. The College's cobblestoned Front Square and Parliament Square form one of Europe's finest Georgian ensembles, shaded by centuries-old trees and presided over by the old Campanile bell tower.
The jewel of the College is the Old Library, constructed between 1712 and 1732, whose magnificent Long Room stretches 65 metres and shelters more than 200,000 ancient volumes in carved oak bookcases. Marble busts of great thinkers line its barrel-vaulted ceiling. On display in the adjacent Treasury is the Book of Kells, a gospel manuscript created by Celtic monks around 800 AD and considered the finest surviving example of Insular art. Four elaborately illustrated pages are displayed at any one time, the breathtaking intricacy of the calligraphy and zoomorphic ornament never failing to astonish visitors.
Did you know? The Book of Kells took decades to create and scholars believe at least three distinct monk-artists worked on it, each identifiable by their individual style.
How long is a visit to Trinity College & Book of Kells?
Set aside roughly ~90 min for Trinity College & Book of Kells. That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is Trinity College & Book of Kells worth your time?
Trinity College & Book of Kells is among the 42 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for Dublin, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in Dublin
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