Libraries are magical places that are places of study, research and also contemplation!
Beautiful landscapes, beaches, monuments and the inevitable Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain are on every tourist itinerary in Rio de Janeiro, aren't they? But how about taking some time to visit the places that are the guardians of infinite information and knowledge: libraries!
1) National Library
Capital of Brazil at the time of the transfer of the Portuguese court, Rio received the Royal Library of Dom João VI, which gave rise to what is today the fabulous National Library. Guardian of everything published in the country, from books to newspapers, the National Library occupies a beautiful building opened in 1910 in Cinelândia, the heart of Rio's historic center.
With free and guided tours for groups, the Library enchants with its collection but also with the beauty of its staircase, collection halls, exhibition spaces and its skylight.
2) Royal Portuguese Reading Cabinet
In the midst of the boxwood in the center of Rio, at number 30 on a street appropriately named Luis de Camões, the city reveals the richest thing that humanity can possess – literally and symbolically. One of the most beautiful buildings in the city, the Real Gabinete Português de Leitura, as one of the jewels of the center's collection of old buildings, stands in stark contrast to its surroundings, with the richness of its decoration and the grandeur of its collection.
Elected in 2014 as the fourth most beautiful library in the world, the Real Cabinet has a facade made with stones brought by ship from Portugal to Rio and inspired by the monumental Jerónimos Monastery, in Lisbon. But it's when you enter it, however, that you understand what a magical place it is.
3) State Park Library
More than a library, the space is a cultural and leisure center, with activities focused on music, video, theater and other arts. In its 15 thousand square meters, the Parque Estadual Library offers: a literary collection with more than 250 thousand items, art books, comics, 20 thousand films, three million digitized songs, children's library, theater with 240 seats, auditorium with 90 places, sound and video studios, multipurpose rooms for laboratories, a "place of leisure" with sun loungers, exhibition area, literary café with stage for shows and soirees, restaurant, patio, bicycle rack and hanging garden.
A great Rio heritage helps tell this story: Guanabarina, a collection of 30 thousand books about the history of Rio de Janeiro, has a special place in the Parque Estadual Library collection. Its rare books, which make up the state's literary and historical memory, are on display in an exclusive room.
4) Banco do Brasil Cultural Center Library
The first Banco do Brasil library was founded in 1931 and currently maintains its collection available for consultation at the Banco do Brasil Cultural Center. it has a reading room that can accommodate up to 120 people, a common room where users can take their books and carry out group work, rooms for the general collection, a reference room with encyclopedias and dictionaries, a children's literature room with more than 4 thousand titles, multimedia room and rooms for special collections. Its opening hours are from Wednesday to Monday, from 9am to 9pm, being the only library in the center of Rio de Janeiro that is available to the public on weekends.
The children's literature sector delights young and old alike, with its entry into a magical world! Unmissable!
5) Maison de France Library
The library of the French Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro was renovated and renamed BiblioMaison, becoming an unmissable place in the cultural life of the city's historic center. In a welcoming environment, the space offers a rich and diverse Franco-Brazilian program, with conferences, debates, exhibitions, documentary screenings, cheese and wine tastings, classes... All of this in a spacious 780 square meter space, surrounded by glass which offer a stunning view of Sugarloaf Mountain.
In addition to access to the collection, the place also offers a cozy bistro with an exclusive menu, where you can relax and enjoy the view.
In my service as a private Tour Guide, we can combine a wide variety of tours around Rio to make your day unforgettable!