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.

  • What architectural styles are present in the National Palace of Mafra?
    • The Baroque building includes Neoclassical elements and is of symmetrical design around a central basilica adorned with Italian statuary.
  • What are the key features of the basilica?
    • The basilica is dedicated to St. Anthony and is built with a white marble exterior and a rose, white, and grey marble interior.
    • It is designed in the shape of a cross and features an extravagantly decorated interior with close to 60 Roman sculptures commissioned from top Italian artists.
    • Six pipe organs made of gilded Brazilian wood were built at the same time and designed to be played together.
  • What is unique about the church bells?
    • The two large towers flanking the entrance contain 92 church bells, making up the world’s largest historical church bell collection.
  • What was the purpose of the convent buildings at Mafra National Palace?
    • The convent buildings are located behind the palace’s main façade and once housed up to 330 friars in small cells along several floors.
    • The convent was abandoned in 1834 when the monarchy ordered the dissolution of religious orders.
  • Where are the royal apartments located at Mafra National Palace?
    • The royal apartments for the King and Queen are located at opposite ends of the palace’s top floor, approximately 700 feet apart.
    • A room in the center of the palace opens onto the basilica, allowing the royal family to attend services through a window overlooking the church.
  • What happened to the original artwork and furniture at Mafra National Palace?
    • Most of the palace’s artwork and furniture was added in the 19th century.
    • The royal family took the most valuable original pieces with them when they fled to Brazil during the French invasion of 1807.
  • What art collections remain in the Mafra National Palace?
    • The collection includes early 18th-century Italian paintings and 19th-century Portuguese artworks.
    • Other items include utilitarian and religious jewelry, metalwork, gold and silver, and ceramics divided into the convent nucleus and royal house collection.
    • A collection of liturgical vestments dates back to 1730.
  • What makes the Mafra National Palace library special?
    • The Rococo-style library inside the palace holds over 36,000 books.
    • The 300-foot long hall is decorated with marble tile and flanked by Rococo-style wooden bookshelves topped with a wooden-railed balcony.
    • The book collection dates back to the 14th century and includes highly valuable leather-bound volumes.
    • The site is famous for the bats kept in the library to protect the books from insects.
  • When and why was the Palace of Mafra built?
    • The Palace of Mafra was originally built as a Franciscan monastery in the early 18th century under King John V.
    • The King had promised 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.
  • How did the palace grow beyond its original plans?
    • Originally, the plans called for a simple wood-frame monastery for 13 friars observing vows of poverty.
    • As gold flowed into Portugal from Brazil, the King poured immense wealth into the palace and monastery, amassing a large art collection.
  • How long did construction take?
    • The 13-year construction project employed up to 45,000 workers, supervised by 7,000 soldiers.
    • The palace was dedicated in 1730 with an elaborate 8-day celebration, but construction was not fully complete until 1755.
    • Following the Great Lisbon Earthquake in 1755, workers were redirected to Lisbon, halting construction.
  • When was the Palace of Mafra designated a National Monument?
    • In 1907, the Palace was designated as a National Monument.
    • Oversight of the building falls under the Portuguese Institute of Architectural Patrimony.
    • Two major renovations have been carried out: one of the Palace’s façade and another 12-year project to restore the world-famous pipe organs.
  • What educational programs and ongoing activities are available?
    • The library, church, and palace each have separate operating hours.
    • A museum shop on-site sells replicas of artwork from the Palace’s collection.
    • Educational tours are available for schools and groups on topics such as Art and Art History and Portuguese History.

National Palace of Mafra, Terreiro D. João V 2640-492 Mafra, Portugal, Phone: +35-12-61-81-75-50

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