Founded on May 14th 1837, Real Gabinete keeps a public library, specialized in Portuguese Literature, History, Antropology, Arts, etc. with 350.000 books. It is the richest library, specialized in Portuguese matters, outside of Portugal and is opened daily from 9 to 18 hours. Real Gabinete promotes courses and seminars and maintains also a “multimidia center” for cultural products.
The building – Rua Luiz de Camões, 30 – was projected by portuguese Arq. Raphael da Silva Castro in ‘neomanuelino” style, and was inaugurated by Princess Izabel in 1887. It is one of the most beautiful building in the heart of Rio de Janeiro city and in its front has the scultures of Pedro Álvares Cabral, Luiz de Camões, Infante D. Henrique and Vasco da Gama.
