The Museum of Forgotten Books is located in the Liberdade neighborhood, in a charming mansion from the early 20th century that preserves the history of São Paulo. Opened in 2024, the space was born to value reading and give visibility to authors who have been neglected over time.
The cultural center has a collection of thousands of works, making a visit a unique experience for those who love reading. If you’re a passionate reader, how about embarking on this tour and getting to know some surprising titles?
Discover the rarities of the Museum of Forgotten Books
The collection of this museum in São Paulo preserves approximately 7,000 copies, including rare editions and first publications of outstanding books. The oldest is a book from 1489, which collects letters by St. Jerome, and there are also copies from the 16th century in languages such as Latin, Greek and Hebrew.
In addition to its permanent collection, the public can also see temporary exhibitions which explore different literary themes. Until June 2026, for example, the museum is presenting the exhibition “O Triunfo da Vaidade: Matias Aires e suas reflexões” (The Triumph of Vanity: Matias Aires and his reflections), which explores the work of the first Brazilian philosopher, whose writings on vanity and human finitude date back to the 18th century.
Another highlight of the Museum of the Forgotten Book is the workshops. With them, visitors of all ages can learn techniques for sanitizing, repairing and even binding books.
The museum is housed in a historic mansion from the 1920s
A House of Roses is one of São Paulo’s most famous mansions, but do you know who was responsible for its design? His name was Felisberto Ranzini, who, although born in Italy, moved to São Paulo as a child and became the architect behind the mansion on Avenida Paulista.
Felisberto also designed a mansion for himself, Casa Ranzini, in the Liberdade neighborhood. The building has been standing since 1924 and features elements of Italian architecture, making it one of the few palaces that remain standing today in the city of São Paulo.
Today, the palace is listed as a historical heritage site and houses the headquarters of the Museum of Forgotten Books. The museum is located at Rua Santa Luzia, 31, and is open on Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays . Tickets start at R$10 and are available online or at the museum’s ticket office. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to enjoy an experience that brings together literature, memory and historic architecture!
