It was with the speech of the newly appointed Minister of Culture, João Soares, the Lello bookshop opened on the morning of Wednesday its doors to the public to commemorate its 110th anniversary. Congratulations sang to the sound of the Symphonic Band Portuguese quartet and visitors were entitled to postal, typical sweets, and poetry Guerra Junqueiro and Florbela Espanca.
January 13, 1906 the Lello bookshop, classified in 2013 as historical heritage of the city, was inaugurated in the presence of politicians and intellectuals, among them Costa and Alfonso Guerra Junqueiro, first name Livro’Ouro in the house, which was also signed today by John Smith.
Culture Minister pointed out in his speech that sees itself in “republican traditions” of the bookstore, which opened two years before the establishment of the Republic, the scene of gatherings to the intellectuals of the time, and now “fulfills 110 years in good hands”. Joao Soares also thanked the Lello family for their role in the appreciation of the local culture. “This is a work that serves the country, serving our culture, and we have to be grateful from the heart by those who now temporarily have the responsibility of the Ministry of Culture in Portugal.”
Declarations the press, the minister added that the bookstore “is proof that culture has market and has a claim space in the business plan for the country, but above all that culture can be an engine for development.” Reference point on the tourist route of Porto, Lello attracts daily hundreds of visitors, and since July last year began charging entry with vouchers of € 3, deductible on the acquisition of books.
“We managed to rescue the essence of the bookstore, “said Jose Manuel Lello, director and great-grandson of José Lello, co-founder of Lello & amp; Brothers. “In summer we came to be about five thousand people to come here, many of them without interest or in the architecture or in books.” Although the number of visitors has decreased, José Manuel Lello said that the measure “allows people Here are a quiet, calm environment, and that with the voucher, buy more books. “
The result of this is that Lello’s sales increased 300% in the last six months. From an average of 190 books per day, the bookstore went on to sell about 522, and is Fernando Pessoa that stands on top of sales. The president of FC Porto, Pinto da Costa, present at the ceremony, acknowledged a Fan confess the works of the poet, and wonder that Lello has had “the intelligence of having them available in several languages, which makes tourists also acquire “.
” It is a living museum, “says Eliane Oliveira, Minas Gerais, Brazil, who already knew the Lello. It was one of the first places we wanted to visit when you come to town for the first time in July last year. Now living here, Eliane returns to Lello whenever he can, and on Wednesday returned to join the party and leave a message in the guestbook, open to visitors. “I wrote congratulations, and said the bookstore inspires us, feeds our imagination.”
It is the promotion of culture and history of the country that Lello else has bet. “We have become major exporters of Portuguese culture, gastronomy, the tiles of various themes,” says José Manuel Lello. The translations of the most important works of the Portuguese language have pride of place, and there is also room for new authors and creations.
“One of the merits that this house had over these 110 years has been able to adapt If the great changes in the publishing and bookselling business, “says José Manuel Lello. “I am sure that my great-grandfather, founder of the house, were here today would be dumbfounded at how turned. What was a good bookstore in 1906, is a good bookstore in 2016, and a tourist attraction of Porto. “
Pedro Pinto, who arrived last year the administration of Lello, reveals that, 2016, the bookstore will launch an international photography prize, a guide’s own bookstore and Afonso Pais photography reconstitution of the opening day in 1906, with intellectuals of our time.
No comments:
Post a Comment