Time to visit Mafra National Palace and its Convent, built during the reign of King John V (1707 - 1750), as consequence of a vow the King made in 1711, to build a convent if his wife, Queen Maria Ana of Austria gave him descendants. 
Is one of the biggest palaces in the world. Its vast dimensions are staggering: the whole complex covers 40,000 square meters and has more than 1,200 rooms, 5,000 doors and windows, and 156 staircases. A wildly exuberant statement of Baroque magnificence, extravagance, and iron-fisted royal power!

It is a stunning feat of architectural engineering and craftsmanship as well as a perfect example of how the vast wealth extracted from Brazil and the Americas was lavishly spent. 

You know? This complex and grandiose construction came to inspire one of the most famous novels by Nobel Prize winner José Saramago, Baltasar & Blimunda (originally Memorial do Convento).

The magnificent Library is the undoubted highlight of Mafra Palace and one of the most celebrated book depositories in Europe. This is the largest and noblest room of the palace. The Rococo-style wooden bookcases hold a priceless collection of more than 36 thousand  books in gold-embossed leather bindings, dating from the 15th to the 19th centuries, covering themes as diverse as Theology, Canon and Civil Law, History, Geography and Travel, Mathematics, Art, Music and Medicine!

Among the more noted volumes housed here is the Nuremberg Chronicle, (dated 1493), and a copy of Theatrum Orbis Terrarum by Abraham Ortelius (dated 1595), considered to be the first true modern atlas. A trilingual copy of the Bible from 1514 is also stored here, while a prized first edition of Os Lusíadas (dated 1572) by the great Portuguese poet - Luís de Camões - is regarded as a national treasure. 

But, not surprisingly, public are not allowed to browse any of the books and can only proceed a short way in from the library's entrance. But it's enough to get marveled by the sumptuous interior and muse upon the fact that the valuable contents are kept free from insect infestation by a colony of bats that lives in the eaves.

The twin 68-meter-high towers soaring over the basilica hold 58 bells each: those in the North tower carillon were wrought in Liège by Nicolau Levache, while those in the South tower were made in Antwerp by Willem Witlockx.

They are the largest historic carillons in the world!

Consecrated in 1730, the magnificent domed Basilica is the central point of the main façade. It was designed by German architect Johann Friedrich Ludwig, who drew his inspiration from St. Peter's Church in the Vatican and the Jesus Church in Rome. This is the first church dome ever built in Portugal. 

The six pipe organs of the basilica are remarkable for the fact that they were all built at the same time (between 1806 and 1807) and were originally conceived to play together. The instruments were constructed by António Xavier Machado e Cerveira and Joaquim António Peres Fontanes, in their day, two of the most celebrated Portuguese organ builders.

The church is open to the public and can be visited independently of the convent and palace.

The interior makes abundant use of Sintra marble which is of contrasting colors. Adorning the atrium of the Basilica you will see a collection of 14 statues of saints carved by members of the Mafra School of Sculpture under the auspices of the Italian master Alessandro Giusti (1715-99). This is the finest assembly of Baroque Italian sculpture found outside Italy.

You’ll be amazed by the wonderful Falconry show.

And before coming back to Lisbon, we will end our Tour with a panoramic view. Then, drop-off at your hotel or apartments.

Have a Nice Day with Us!