Facade © H. Ruas
Palace of Mafra
Queen bathroom © H. Ruas
Palace of Mafra
Queen Chapel © H. Ruas
Palace of Mafra
Gallery © G.Cordeiro
Palace of Mafra
Throne room © H. Ruas
Palais de Mafra
Room of Hunting © H. Ruas
Palace of Mafra
Benediction Room © H. Ruas
Palace of Mafra
Hall of the Basilica © L. Pavão
Palace of Mafra
Basilica nave © Dias dos Reis
Palace of Mafra
Garden of the Convent © H Ruas
Palace of Mafra
Refectoire of the monks © H Ruas
Palace of Mafra
Library @ Photo N. Sapiehas
Palace of Mafra
The commonly called «Mafra Convent» includes the Palace, the Monastery, the Library and the Basilica. The monument was built due to a promise made by king João V so that the queen, Mary of Austria, would give him a male heir; the queen conceived a boy and the sovereign fulfilled his vow and ordered a convent dedicated to Saint Anthony. The construction works of the most imposing Portuguese Baroque monument began in 1717, under the supervision of the German architect Johann Friedrich Ludwig (Frederico Ludovici), and were concluded by 1730; the façade is about 200 metres (660 feet) long, with the Basilica in the middle and the Palace and the Monastery on each side. The marble came from the quarries of Pêro Pinheiro and Sintra, the wood from Brazil; from France, Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands arrived the bells, the statues, the carillons, the silver tableware and the chandeliers; all this amounts to an enormous building with 880 rooms, 300 cells, 4500 doors and windows, 154 staircases and 29 courtyards. The Royal Palace was a summer residence, besides lodging the Court during the hunting season.
Palácio Nacional de Mafra
Palais National et Monastère Terreiro de Dom João V
2640-498 Mafra Portugal
Email: geral@pnmafra.dgpc.pt
Website:
http://pnmafra.imc-ip.pt
Tel: (351) 261 817 550
Fax: (351) 261 811 947
Instituto dos Museus e da Conservação
The Institute of Museums and Conservation (IMC) is an Agency of the Ministry of Culture established in 2007. The IMC includes 28 museums and 5 National Palaces, all reference institutions, located on the Portuguese territory where the most important collections of the national heritage are preserved, studied and disseminated. The main concern of the Institute is to preserve and develop these unique works, by guaranteeing their access to the future generations.
The European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards celebrate excellence in cultural heritage conservation. The Palace of Mafra (Portugal) is one of the 2012 award winners for the restoration of the six historical organs of its basilica.