Passos Manuel Library (Biblioteca Passos Manuel)

Established by decree of Minister Passos Manuel in 1836, the library found its permanent home in 1921, within the former dormitories of the ancient São Bento Monastery. In a touching tribute to its founder, the library was renamed Passos Manuel Library during a small ceremony on October 25, 2017, marking the bicentenary of the Liberal Revolution of 1820.

Located on the noble floor of the Palácio de São Bento, the Passos Manuel Library occupies four rooms that were once inhabited by the monks of the São Bento da Saúde Monastery. Its origins can be traced back to the former Library of the Cortes, established in 1836 by Minister Manuel da Silva Passos to serve the legislative body. Initially situated in the former choir of the Benedictine church (now the Salão Nobre), it housed around 7,300 volumes from the General Repository of Libraries of Extinct Convents, created in 1834.

In 1921, following the approval of a bibliographic organizational plan, the library was permanently relocated to its present location. However, it was not until 1936, during the Estado Novo period, that the library, then known as the Library of the National Assembly, was redesigned by Adolfo Marques da Silva. It was furnished with two-story bookshelves, gallery access, reading tables, and oak wooden chairs, aiming to recreate the ambiance of a Renaissance convent library. The main room proudly displays busts of António de Oliveira Salazar, sculpted by Francisco Franco, and Passos Manuel, sculpted by Anatole Calmels.

Following the The Carnation Revolution in 1974, the library was renamed the Library of the Assembly of the Republic, and its furniture underwent remodeling, though some pieces from that era are still preserved in the main room. The bust of Passos Manuel remains at the center of the room, serving as a testament to the library's enduring connection to its founder.

Today, known as the Passos Manuel Library, it houses an impressive collection of over 180,000 volumes. The majority of these resources are directly related to parliamentary activities, while others cover a wide range of subjects including law, political science, history, economics, statistics, and texts from international organizations. Additionally, the library houses a reserved collection of ancient documents, including works dating from the 16th to the 18th centuries. As the heart of parliamentary knowledge, the Passos Manuel Library not only supports the legislative endeavors of the assembly but also welcomes citizens in need of information in these areas.

Within its hallowed halls, the Passos Manuel Library stands as a testament to the intertwining of knowledge, history, and democracy. It embodies the enduring spirit of Passos Manuel and his vision for a library that would serve as a bastion of learning and enlightenment for generations to come. As visitors explore the library's shelves, delve into its historic texts, and bask in its serene atmosphere, they bear witness to the power of literature and the importance of preserving the rich heritage of parliamentary discourse. The Passos Manuel Library stands as a true treasure, a sanctuary of ideas and a bridge between the past, present, and future of Portugal's democratic legacy.