The Royal Portuguese Reading is in all respects, a very remarkable institution and that dignifies Portugal in Brazil.

On May 14, 1837, a group of 43 Portuguese emigrants in Rio de Janeiro brought together in the old Straight Street (now First Street March) and decided to create a library to expand the knowledge of its members and provide opportunities for Portuguese residents then the capital of the Empire to illustrate his spirit.

Open to the public since 1900, the library of the Royal Cabinet has the largest collection of works Portuguese outside Portugal. Among the approximately 350,000 volumes, domestic and foreign, are rare works as a copy of the edition "princeps" of the Lusí­adas de Camões, the Ordinances of D. Manuel, the Leys Capitolos Cutting and what about some delles did, the true land of Prester informaçam Joam, and second vio escreveo ho Father Francisco Alvarez.

Designed by a Portuguese architect, the façade was inspired by the Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon, and was brought by ship from lda Portuguese capital to Rio The four statues that adorn depict, respectively, Pedro Alvares Cabral, Luí­s de Camões, Infante D . Henry and Vasco da Gama.