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The Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading (Real Gabinete Português de Leitura), one of the most magnificent libraries in the world, is located in Rio de Janeiro’s city center.
The library was founded in 1837 by a group of 43 Portuguese immigrants to promote culture among the Portuguese community of Rio. The building was erected between 1880 and 1887, and Brazilian Emperor Pedro II laid the cornerstone on June 10, 1880. The façade, modeled after the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon, was crafted out of limestone in Lisbon and shipped to Rio.
Four statues adorn the façade. They represent Pedro Álvares Cabral, Luís de Camões, Prince Henry the Navigator (Infante D. Henrique) and Vasco da Gama.
Interior
The interior has a spectacular wooden reading room with a huge chandelier and skylight. The library has over 350,000 volumes and the largest collection of works in Portuguese outside of Portugal. Some rare books date back to the early 16th century.
A statue of Pedro Álvares Cabral, a Portuguese explorer credited as the European discoverer of Brazil, sits at the back of the reading room.
In July 2014, Time Magazine ranked it fourth out of the 20 most beautiful libraries in the world. It receives an average of about 150 visitors a day.
Safety
Note: The only time you should visit this area is during the weekdays. Nights and weekends are absolutely off limits. Nobody lives in this area and it is not safe to be there alone. You should also be aware of your surroundings and be very careful with valuables.
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