Palácio Nacional de Mafra

The Palácio Nacional de Mafra is one of the largest royal buildings in Europe, a vast complex of palace, basilica and monastery begun by King João V with the gold of Brazil. Its long facade, its two towers and its enormous library make it one of the most impressive monuments in Portugal.

A royal foundation

The palace was built between 1717 and 1755, to the design of the German architect Johann Friedrich Ludwig, and housed a Franciscan monastery as well as the court. Its basilica, with its carillon of bells, and its library of some 30,000 rare books are among its treasures. The building was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site in 2019.

What to see

• The basilica, with its marble chapels and the famous carillon.
• The royal library, with its remarkable collection of rare books.
• The royal apartments, furnished as they were in the eighteenth century.
• The monastery and the infirmary, which recall the religious life of the complex.

Visiting the palace

The palace is in the town of Mafra, about 40 kilometres north of Lisbon. Opening hours and tickets are published on the official website, so check before your visit.

Visitor information: palaciomafra.gov.pt.

Image credit: Palácio Nacional de Mafra, by Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.