Portugal’s National Palace of Mafra is an 18th century palace and monastery less than 20 miles outside of Lisbon. The 430,000 square foot palace is a Baroque masterpiece, and one of Portugal’s largest royal palaces.
The Baroque building includes Neoclassical elements, and is of symmetrical design around a central basilica adorned with Italian statuary. The front entrance is flanked by two large towers, which mimic the Roman towers of Sant’Agnese. Inside the towers are a total of 92 church bells, comprising the world’s largest historical church bell collection.
The basilica, dedicated to St. Anthony, is built of a white marble exterior, with rose, white and grey marble interior, and is designed in the shape of a cross. The extravagantly decorated interior includes close to 60 roman sculptures commissioned by the best Italian artists of the time, the largest such collection outside of Italy. Jasper altarpieces and a 15-foot cross flanked by two marble angles, were all designed by School of Mafra sculptors. Six pipe organs made of gilded Brazilian wood were all built at the same time, designed to be played together.
Convent buildings are located behind the palace’s main façade. The friary housed up to 330 friars in small cells along several floors. The convent was abandoned in 1834 when the dissolution of religious orders was ordered by the monarchy.
Royal apartments for the King and Queen are located at opposite ends of the palace’s top floor, approximately 700 feet from each other. A room at the center of the palace opens on to the basilica, allowing the royal family to attend services through a window overlooking the church. Most of the palace’s artwork and furniture was added in the later 19th century, as the Royal family took the most valuable original artwork and furniture with them when they fled to Brazil during the French invasion of 1807.
Of the artwork that remains, a painting collection includes early 18th century Italian works that originally adorned the convent and basilica. The collection also includes 19th century Portuguese painters. Additional items in the collection include utilitarian and religious jewelry, metalwork, gold and silver, as well as a ceramics collection separated into the convent nucleus, and works belonging to the royal house. A collection of liturgical vestments dates back to 1730.
A Rococo-style library inside the palace holds over 36,000 books. Considered the highlight of the Palace’s collections, the 300-foot long hall is decorated in marble tile, and flanked by two walls of Rococo style wooden bookshelves, topped with a wooden-railed balcony. The collection of books dates back to the 14th century and includes highly valuable leather-bound volumes, each bound in a local workshop for the King and Queen. The site is also famous for the bats, kept in the library to protect the books from insects.
History: The Palace of Mafra was originally built as a Franciscan monastery in the early 18th century under the rule of King John V. The King had made a promise to his wife that he would build the monastery if she bore him children. Construction began in 1717 with the birth of Infanta Barbara of Portugal. In addition to its service as a monastery, the palace was used as a second residence for the royal family, who took advantage of its location near the royal hunting preserves.
Originally, the plans called for a simple wood frame monastery for a group of 13 friars who were to observe vows of poverty. However, by the time construction began, gold was flowing into Portugal from the colony of Brazil and the King poured this immense wealth into the palace and monastery, and began to amass a large collection of art.
The 13 years long construction project employed up to 45,000 workers at some points, monitored by 7,000 soldiers. Although the building was dedicated in 1730 with an elaborate, 8-day celebration, construction was not fully complete until 1755, at which point the great earthquake called the workers were called to the city of Lisbon.
In 1907, the Palace was designated as a National Monument. Oversight of the building falls under the Portuguese Institute of Architectural Patrimony, who has managed two extensive renovations, one of the Palace’s façade, and the other, a 12-year project to restore the world famous organs.
Ongoing Programs and Education: The library, church and palace each keep separate operating hours. There is also a museum shop onsite, which sells replicas of artwork from the Palace’s collection. Educational tours are available for schools and other groups on the subjects of Art and Art History, and Portuguese History.
Terreiro D. João V 2640-492 Mafra, Portugal, Phone: +35-12-61-81-75-50
