ROYAL PORTUGUESE CABINET OF READING

Description

Essentials about the Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading in brief

For bookworms and library lovers, a visit to the Real Gabinete Português de Leitura (Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading) is absolutely worthwhile. On the one hand, the Real Gabinete is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world, and on the other hand, with approximately 350,000 works, it houses the largest and most valuable collection of Portuguese literature outside the mother country of Portugal.

The architecture of the Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading

The Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading was founded in 1837 by a group of 43 Portuguese immigrants who wanted to promote the culture of their homeland in what was then the capital of the Empire of Brazil. Located in downtown Rio, the building is the work of Portuguese architect Rafael da Silva e Castro and was built between 1880 and 1887 in the Neo-Manueline style. This architectural style is reminiscent of the mixed Gothic and Renaissance style that was prevalent during the times of the Portuguese explorations under King Manuel. The façade of the Royal Cabint is inspired by the world-famous Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon and was shipped to Rio after being worked on in Lisbon.

The reading room of the Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading

Since 1990, the Royal Cabinet of Reading has also been open to the public. The reading room with its high ceiling construction is particularly impressive. Numerous bookshelves fill the room up to the ceiling. The light falling into the interior through the colored glass windows provides a very special reading atmosphere.