Literature, Art and Architecture
Since 1906
Since 1906, Livraria Lello has stood in the heart of Porto as a place where literature, art and architecture come together to celebrate the power of ideas. Recognised worldwide as the World’s Most Beautiful Bookshop, it is one of Portugal’s most iconic cultural landmarks and a symbol of the city’s creative spirit. Designed by Francisco Xavier Esteves, the building combines a Neo-Gothic structure with the flowing elegance of Art Nouveau. Its iconic stained-glass skylight, inscribed with Decus, together with the sculpted tributes to Eça de Queirós and Camilo Castelo Branco, reflects the bookshop’s enduring devotion to literature and Portuguese identity.
Rooted in a rich publishing heritage, Livraria Lello brings together tradition and innovation. It publishes and curates books that transcend time, genres and generations, from literary classics to contemporary voices and artistic collaborations.
More than a bookshop, Livraria Lello is a global ambassador for the power of the written word.
Our mission
Livraria Lello believes that reading can change the world. In an increasingly fast-paced and fragmented age, it sees reading as a space for imagination, freedom and well-being – a practice proven to reduce stress, strengthen empathy, combat loneliness and even increase life expectancy. At a time when books are once again facing growing pressures of censorship in many parts of the world, reading becomes not only an act of self-care, but also a true act of freedom.
Guided by its mission to inspire the world to read with beauty, freedom and purpose, Livraria Lello places literature at the heart of contemporary life through publishing, cultural programming and a continuous commitment to cultural boldness. From Porto to the world, Livraria Lello stands as a cultural voice that champions books and expands the future of reading – a future with more books, more readers and more happiness.
Our history
Livraria Lello Opens in Porto
On 13 January 1906, Livraria Lello opened its doors before an audience of writers, artists and intellectuals, including Guerra Junqueiro and Aurélio Paz dos Reis, a pioneer of Portuguese cinema. From its very first day, it was recognised as one of Porto’s most remarkable cultural landmarks.
The Legacy of Ernesto Chardron
It is worth noting that the soul of Livraria Lello was born years earlier. Its origins trace back to Ernesto Chardron, the young French bookseller and publisher who, in the nineteenth century, helped shape Portuguese literature by publishing Amor de Perdição by Camilo Castelo Branco and Os Maias by Eça de Queiroz.
When the Lello brothers acquired Chardron’s historic publishing house in 1894, they inherited far more than a catalogue – they inherited a vision. It was this publishing legacy that would ultimately lead to the creation of Livraria Lello, now recognised as one of the world’s most iconic bookshops.
Importers and Exporters of Literature
Between the 1920s and the 1950s, Livraria Lello became one of Portugal’s leading cultural exporters. From Porto, its publications travelled to Brazil and other Portuguese-speaking countries, strengthening literary and commercial ties across the Atlantic while expanding the global reach of Portuguese literature.
During this period, Livraria Lello also brought to life one of its most ambitious publishing projects: the first complete translation of Shakespeare’s works into Portuguese, alongside editions of Alexandre Dumas, Gustave Flaubert, Miguel de Cervantes, Victor Hugo and Charles Darwin. By making world literature accessible in Portuguese, Livraria Lello established itself as a cultural bridge between Europe, Brazil and Africa.
The Red Staircase becomes an icon
In 1993, Livraria Lello embarked on its first major restoration and conservation works. During the process, the central staircase—originally brown—was mistakenly painted red. When the sculptor José Rodrigues saw it, he was immediately captivated by its new colour. What began as a mistake became destiny: the red staircase would go on to become one of the world’s most photographed and admired bookshop icons.
The World's Most Beautiful Bookshop
Livraria Lello was first described as “The World’s Most Beautiful Bookshop” by Spanish writer Enrique Vila-Matas in an article published in El País in 2006. The recognition quickly gained international momentum: in 2008, The Guardian named it one of the world’s best bookshops, and in 2011, a Lonely Planet editor described it as “an Art Nouveau gem”. In the years that followed, its international prestige continued to grow.
International Recognition
In 2015, TIME magazine recognised Livraria Lello as one of the world’s most remarkable bookshops, highlighting its historical and architectural significance. CNN once again referred to it as The World’s Most Beautiful Bookshop, and in 2016, National Geographic included it among the most beautiful bookshops on the planet. From the mid-2010s onwards, Livraria Lello established itself as a global cultural icon—a destination for readers, travellers and architecture enthusiasts from every continent, consistently featured in the world’s most prestigious rankings of iconic bookshops.
A New Model Revitalises Livraria Lello
In 2015, Livraria Lello faced the risk of closing its doors. To preserve its legacy, it adopted an innovative business model that once again placed books at the heart of everything it does. Through a voucher system, whereby the full value of the admission ticket can be redeemed against the purchase of a book, every visit became an act of reading and renewal. This model not only safeguarded the bookshop and its heritage, but also rekindled the purpose that inspired its founding: to inspire the world to read.
Restoration Completed
In 2018, Livraria Lello completed an extensive restoration and conservation project that returned the building to the splendour of its original 1906 design. An investment of more than €2 million restored the façade, renewed the iconic stained-glass skylight and opened to the public areas that had been reserved for internal use for decades, once again revealing the bookshop’s architectural beauty and cultural significance.
Return to Publishing
That same year, Livraria Lello resumed its publishing activity with the launch of The Collection, a series of exclusive editions of the great classics of world literature.
The World's First Public Takeover Bid for Books
In 2019, Livraria Lello launched the world’s first public takeover bid for books, affirming the book as an object of both cultural and financial value. The initiative focused on first editions of Os Lusíadas, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, and the Gazeta da Restauração, Portugal’s first newspaper. Two of these works were successfully acquired, while the search for a first edition of Os Lusíadas remains ongoing.
Acquisition of the Sá da Bandeira Theatre
Livraria Lello acquired the Sá da Bandeira Theatre through a public auction, investing €3.5 million in one of Porto’s oldest and most iconic theatres. By bringing together two listed heritage monuments — the bookshop and the theatre — it reaffirmed a shared mission: to protect, preserve and project Portuguese culture and artistic heritage into the future.
Opening of the world's first Drive-Thru Bookshop
With its doors closed due to the pandemic, Livraria Lello created the world’s first Drive-Thru Bookshop, offering one edition per day throughout the month of April. More than 10,000 books were distributed, reaffirming books as an essential good.
Acquisition of the Coimbra Editora archive
In defence of book heritage, Livraria Lello acquired the collection of Coimbra Editora and its printing house, with the aim of preserving the value of the book and perpetuating the legacy of one of Portugal’s most iconic publishing houses.
Rebranding by Studio Eduardo Aires
Livraria Lello unveiled its new visual identity, developed by designer Eduardo Aires, reflecting the institution’s transformation into a contemporary cultural platform while preserving its connection to its century-old history.
Gema Room and Bob Dylan's Letters
Livraria Lello invested in the acquisition of a collection of unpublished letters by Bob Dylan, bringing to Porto an important documentary heritage associated with one of the most influential figures in contemporary culture. Following this acquisition, Gema Room was inaugurated: a space dedicated to the exhibition and appreciation of rare, antique and special books, designed to offer an experience of contemplation and discovery of bibliographic heritage.
Municipal Merit Medal
In recognition of its contribution to the city and to the promotion of Portuguese culture, Livraria Lello was awarded the Municipal Merit Medal by Porto City Council, one of the highest distinctions granted by the municipality.
Livraria Lello Foundation
Livraria Lello took a decisive step in consolidating its cultural mission with the creation of the Livraria Lello Foundation, an institution dedicated to promoting reading, freedom of expression and access to culture, as well as developing cultural, educational and civic engagement projects.
Amy Winehouse Collection
Livraria Lello added Amy Winehouse’s personal library to the Gema Room Collection: an eclectic collection of more than 200 books featuring handwritten annotations.
Opening of the Livraria Lello Expansion
Livraria Lello began its structural expansion with a project designed by architect Álvaro Siza Vieira. The enlarged bookshop offers visitors improved accessibility, access to an even richer cultural programme and, of course, more books. The Siza Wing features the Manifesto Library, a partnership between Livraria Lello and the Service95 Book Club, which brings together 100 books that invite reflection, discussion, and discovery. Ai Weiwei’s “A4” is also part of the new wing—an exhibition featuring a monumental installation commissioned by Livraria Lello and a selection of works by Ai Weiwei.