📚 The Royal Portuguese Reading Room

📍 Real Gabinete Português de Leitura (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) 🏆 Named by Time magazine as one of the most stunning libraries on Earth! 🌟 Why Visit? 350,000+ books, mostly Portuguese literature Rare treasures like the 1572 first edition of Os Lusíadas (epic Portuguese poem) 16th-century manuscripts + handwritten letters from famous authors 🏛️ History & Architecture Founded in 1837 by Portuguese exiles to preserve their culture post-Brazilian independence (1822) Rebuilt in 1887 in Manueline style (unique Portuguese Gothic fused with nautical motifs ⚓🐚—think ropes, sea creatures, and explorer tributes!) Facade carved in Lisbon & shipped to Rio—adorned with statues of: Pedro Álvares Cabral (European "discoverer" of Brazil) Luís de Camões (author of Os Lusíadas) Prince Henry the Navigator + Vasco da Gama (India route pioneer) ✨ Interior Magic Ornate chandelier + cast-iron skylight (a Brazilian architectural first!) Gold-leaf details & soaring bookshelves—pure fairytale vibes! Fun Fact: The library sits where Brazil’s independence was declared! 🎉 🔖 Tags #BeautifulLibraries #RioDeJaneiro #BrazilTravel #HiddenGems #BookLovers #ArchitecturePhotography