The World’s 100 Best Libraries
Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
No. 1 in Latin America
Royal Portuguese Reading Room is a historic library in downtown Rio de Janeiro, founded in 1837 by Portuguese immigrants. Visitors see a tall reading hall with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, iron balconies, a central glass roof and a monumental chandelier.
Highlights
- Main reading hall
- Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves
- Neo-Manueline facade and woodwork
Good to know
- Free admission
- Long queues, often one to two hours
- Visit inside lasts about 10 to 15 minutes
