In recent years, the church was abandoned and fell into ruin. Yet, literary champions from popular bookstore Ler Devagar in Lisbon recognized potential in the structure. They corralled support from the European investors to the tune of €300,000...
Who would guess that Portugal has some of the most interesting and awe-inspiring spaces devoted to books? Porto is home to the most beautiful bookstore in the world, Livraria Lello. But, the University of Coimbra in Central Portugal is the location for one of the world’s grandest and unique libraries, the Biblioteca Joanina.
Bookstores can be wonderful havens for discovery, fantasy, education, entertainment, solitude and social networking. Floor-to-ceiling shelves, an eclectic atmosphere with a cafe makes for the perfect environment to enjoy the printed word. Such an expressive space exists in the Alcântara district of Lisbon.
Just a five-minute walk from Porto’s city center is one of the most magnificent book shops one can imagine. In...