The Royal Portuguese Reading Room
The Royal Portuguese Reading Room is one of the most important symbols of the Portuguese presence in Rio de Janeiro and holds one of the largest collections of literary works by Portuguese authors outside Portugal. Founded on May 14, 1837, by a group of 43 Portuguese immigrants, the Reading Room’s main goal was to create a space for reading and cultural dissemination for the Lusitanian community in what was then the capital of the Brazilian Empire. It was a way for these immigrants to keep their cultural and literary traditions alive on Brazilian territory.
Reproduction: The Royal Portuguese Reading Room
In addition to being a cultural landmark in the city, the Reading Room reflects the influence of ideological movements that shaped Brazilian society in the 19th century, particularly Freemasonry and positivist republican thought. These movements left their mark on the formation of cultural and literary institutions, such as the Portuguese Reading Room, as it was called then, which became a meeting point for the intellectual and political elites of the time.
Initially, the group met at the home of lawyer António José Coelho Louzada on Rua Direita, nowadays called Primeiro de Março. Later, it occupied locations on Rua de São Pedro and Rua da Quitanda, the tricentennial commemoration of Luís de Camões’ death motivated the group to seek larger headquarters. They purchased a building on the former Rua da Lampadosa, now called Rua Luís de Camões. Construction of the new building began in 1880, based on a design by the Portuguese architect Rafael da Silva e Castro, and it was inaugurated in 1888.
The façade of the headquarters of the Portuguese Reading Room, at the end of the 19th Century, National Archive. Photographic Collections.
The building’s architecture is in the Neo-Manueline style, which combines robust and dynamic forms with fluid curves, inspired by maritime flora and the nautical themes of the Age of Discoveries. The façade features pointed arches and sculptures of Vasco da Gama, Pedro Álvares Cabral, Prince Henry the Navigator, and Luís de Camões. Inside, four medallions represent Fernão Lopes, Gil Vicente, Alexandre Herculano, and Almeida Garrett.
Reproduction: The Royal Portuguese Reading Room
The initial collection, composed of donations from the founders themselves, grew over time, incorporating rare and valuable works, including first editions of Portuguese literary classics such as Os Lusíadas by Camões and the Dicionário da Língua Tupy by Gonçalves Dias, as well as other historical documents.
Reproduction: The Royal Portuguese Reading Room
Throughout the 20th century, the Royal Portuguese Reading Room established itself as an important center for research and the preservation of Portugal’s and Brazil’s literary and historical heritage. The building has undergone several renovations and modernizations while preserving its rich original architecture. In 1900, the Portuguese Reading Room became a public library, allowing anyone to access its books, and in 1906, the then King of Portugal, Dom Carlos, granted it the title of ´Royal´.
Reproduction: The Royal Portuguese Reading Room
In 1935, the institution was recognized as an entity of public utility, reinforcing its role as the guardian of a collection that today exceeds 350,000 volumes, including books, manuscripts, and periodicals.
Marc Ferrez. Royal Portuguese Reading Room, on rua Luís de Camões. On the right the back of the Escola Politécnica, currently IFCS of UFRJ, 1887. IMS collection.
The Royal Portuguese Reading Room remains a meeting point for scholars and literature enthusiasts, welcoming daily visitors who wish to explore its vast collection or simply admire the beauty of the building.
