Ajuda Library

Ajuda Library

The Ajuda Library has occupied its own wing of the Ajuda National Palace since 10 June 1880, but its history goes back much further: to the 15th century, as the Royal Library. It lost most of its very rich holdings in the 1755 earthquake and was reinstalled in houses next to the Wooden Palace, the Real Barraca in Ajuda; in 1811 it was taken to Rio de Janeiro, where it formed the original core of today's National Library of Brazil, and only the manuscripts of the Royal House returned to Lisbon, in 1821. Its librarians included Alexandre Herculano and Ramalho Ortigão. Today it holds some 150,000 items, from the 12th to the 21st century, on three kilometres of shelves: 2,512 codices and about 33,000 loose documents, among them 43 illuminated codices and the famous Cancioneiro da Ajuda; a collection of 18th- and 19th-century music manuscripts, with 2,950 codices, ranked among the most important of its kind; and 190 incunabula. Three of its historic rooms, with trompe-l'oeil ceilings painted by José Pereira Júnior and display cases of manuscripts, printed works and tools from the old bookbinding workshop, can be visited by prior appointment on weekdays; the reading room is open to researchers.

Located at: Palácio Nacional da Ajuda
Address: Palácio Nacional da Ajuda, 1349-021 Lisboa
Opening hours: visits by prior appointment only, Monday to Friday 10:30-17:30 (closed at weekends and on public holidays)
Phone: +351 213 638 592
Coordinates: 38.7076773, -9.1977308
Buses: 729, 742, 760, 732
Tram: 18E
Opened: 1880 (146 years)