Portuguese Library, Portuguese library in Salvador, Brazil

The Gabinete Português de Leitura occupies a Neo-Manueline building on Praça da Piedade, designed by Alberto Borelli and inaugurated in 1918. Its façade carries statues of Pedro Álvares Cabral and Luís de Camões, a stained-glass window of the first Mass in Brazil, and two murals depicting Adamastor and Camões saving The Lusíads. The library, named Infante Dom Henrique, holds about 25,000 volumes.

Founded on 2 March 1863 by Portuguese immigrants in Salvador, the Gabinete Português de Leitura held its first session at the Real Sociedade Portuguesa de Beneficência Dezesseis de Setembro. Its first president was comendador Manuel Joaquim Rodrigues. After several moves, the current headquarters was built between 1915 and 1918 and inaugurated on 3 February 1918 by governor Moniz Aragão.

Portuguese immigrants established this institution to maintain their language and literary traditions in Brazil. The space embodies how communities preserve their cultural identity and connection to their homeland through shared reading and knowledge.

The reading room welcomes visitors regardless of Portuguese language ability and maintains regular access during weekdays for research purposes. Checking opening hours beforehand is helpful since availability may vary by day.

The two statues on the facade depict Pedro Álvares Cabral and Luís de Camões, not navigators. Inside, a stained-glass window shows the first Mass in Brazil, and two murals depict Adamastor and Camões saving The Lusiads.