Portuguese Reading Bureau Pernambuco celebrates 171 years since its founding

This Wednesday (3) Portuguese Reading Bureau Pernambuco (GPL-PE) celebrated its 171th anniversary. The celebration took place at the institution’s headquarters located on Rua do Imperador Dom Pedro II, in the Santo António district, and began at 19:30 and was broadcast live on the Cabinet’s YouTube channel (Gabinete Português de Leia PE). The event was attended by the board, advisory board and government officials and followed all medical protocols required to prevent the Covid-19 pandemic.

Since 1850, this place has gained great importance as a place where the Portuguese living in Pernambuco could hold their special meetings, as well as celebrate important dates in their homeland.

For GPL-PE President Celso Stamford Gaspar, the commemoration represents an important alliance between the communities of Pernambuco and Portugal, who come together in a constant quest for knowledge. “The Cabinet of Ministers celebrates its foundation on November 3. The importance of this event is to commemorate the house, which has been functioning for 171 years in the center of Recife, the very heart of the city and unites not only the Portuguese, but also the descendants of the Portuguese and Recife. so every effort is being made that leads to a greater source of knowledge, ”he says.

Photo: Sandy James / Esp. DP

According to the president, the cabinet is gradually returning to open its doors. “One of the upcoming projects that will be implemented in the near future is the opening of our library on Saturdays. It is already open to the public from Monday to Friday, ”comments Celso.

Pre-scheduled visits must be made in advance and can be completed through the website. http://gplpe.com.br/ or by phone (81) 3224-2002.

History of the Portuguese reading room of Pernambuco

In 1850, a large number of Portuguese lived in Pernambuco. They, in turn, did not have a suitable place where they could gather to worship their homeland and celebrate important dates for their country. In search of a solution, Commander Miguel José Alves, then chancellor of the Portuguese consulate in that state, was the first to think about the possibility of creating a Portuguese reading bureau in Pernambuco.

The surgeon and journalist João Vicente Martins had the honor of founding the first board of directors on November 3, 1850, uniting the first members and allowing on August 15, 1851, to open an office at its first address, on rue Rua from Cadey Velha, now Avenida Marquis de Olinda, in the Recife area.

Since 1921, the three-story building, built at its own headquarters in 1921, which began construction in early 1909, offers the residents of Pernambuco and the Portuguese community an intense experience of sharing knowledge and culture, as well as fostering bonds of friendship. between Portugal and Brazil.

The Portuguese Reading Bureau Pernambuco facilitates celebrations, anniversaries, seminars, conferences, exhibitions of books, photographs, paintings, courses and Portuguese cinematic projections. Its library contains over 50 thousand volumes. The entire bibliography is constantly available to the public, mainly to Brazilian students.