Hemeroteca Municipal de Lisboa, Periodical library in São Domingos de Benfica, Portugal.
The Hemeroteca Municipal de Lisboa is a periodical library in Benfica housing around 18,000 Portuguese and international newspaper titles in its collection. The archive also includes microfilms and specialized books on journalism history.
This library was established in 1931 and immediately received legal deposit status, allowing it to collect copies of all newspapers and magazines published in Portugal. That status made it the primary source for documenting Portugal's 20th-century media landscape.
The collection shows how Portuguese newspapers and magazines changed over the centuries, reflecting the country's history through their front pages and content. You can see how typefaces, layouts, and images shaped different eras.
The building sits near Laranjeiras subway station, making it easy to reach by public transportation. Allow plenty of time when visiting, as exploring large archival collections requires patience and focus.
The archive preserves first editions of renowned Portuguese publications such as Avante, Diário da Manhã, and A Paródia dating back to their founding years. These originals let visitors see how publications that shaped Portugal over decades actually looked when they first appeared.
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