We always have a better day when we visit the oldest bookshop in the world, Bertrand Chiado, in Chiado, of course !
In 2011, Bertrand do Chiado was distinguished by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest bookstore in operation and touring its seven rooms takes you on a journey through time, through the country’s history and literature.
Founded in 1732 by Pedro Faure , who in 1742 joined forces with Pierre Bertrand, this bookshop is a real treasure that should be browsed and treasured.
The 1755 earthquake forced the bookshop to move to the Chapel of Nossa Senhora das Necessidades, and it wasn’t until 1773 that it returned to its original location at 73 and 75 Rua Garrett.
Lots to read… with art thrown in
New times have brought a new space, at the end of the long corridor: a café with snacks that invite you to “taste the books” and the culinary recipes they keep on the shelves around them. It’s called Café Bertrand and was inaugurated in 2017 on the occasion of the bookshop’s 285th anniversary.
Almost all Lusophone authors fit into this space and some of them are honored by the walls and corners here, such as one of our favorite poets (and almost everyone who loves poetry), Fernando Pessoa, who adds color and poetry to this café.
On the wall at the back you’ll find a mural dedicated to Fernando Pessoa, created by artist Tamara Alves, featuring some of the poet’s phrases and heteronyms, signed in the writer’s own handwriting.
This is undoubtedly one of our favorite places to have a coffee while we browse through half a dozen pages of our next investment in literature.
Tourist spot
The Bertrand bookshop in Chiado is now a must-visit for anyone passing through Lisbon, Chiado and Rua Garrett, inviting tourists and locals alike to discover its seven rooms, most of which are named after a writer: Aquilino Ribeiro, José Saramago, Eça de Queiroz, Almada Negreiros, Alexandre Herculano, Sophia de Mello Breyner and, as we’ve already mentioned, the Café Bertrand dedicated to Fernando Pessoa.
This is also where various presentations and launches of new books take place, autograph sessions with some of the country’s most promising authors and, of course, small gatherings where the book industry is often debated and important literary dates are celebrated.
Address: Rua Garrett 73-75 (Chiado)
