at a glance

tickets to access ilha fiscal are sold at the Museu Naval, on Rua Dom Manuel 15, Praça XV - schedule for access should be checked on the official webpage here. the ilha fiscal can be seen on this link by wikimapia, the link as we present it may only zoom properly using chrome. First opened in 1887 by a group of 43 Portuguese immigrants, 15 years after the country gained independence, O Gabinete Real Portugues, or 'The Royal Portuguese Reading Office', is an extensive library of great cultural significance situated in the square. It is regarded as highly prestigious in intellectual circles, offering the largest and most valuable library of works by Portuguese authors outside of Portugal - It has over 350,000 volumes in print and digital format, as well as a collection of rare texts.