Days 5 & 6 8/12 - 8/13/2023
Portugal - Mafra
Frank's Trip
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Seemingly Impossible Mafra...
It seemed I wouldn't be able to get to Mafra to see the World Heritage Site - but it turned out to be easy after a LOT of research. Turns out the only easy ways to get to Mafra are to take a taxi (quite expensive) or take a tour (even more expensive). However, since I didn't want to spend THAT much to see one particular place, I did check further. Turns out it was easy to get a bus from Sintra to Mafra and the busses run both ways multiple times a day and are very inexpensive. And, even if I had remained in Lisbon (which I should have, in hindsight) I could have taken the train to Sintra and then the bus to Mafra quite easily, as well. Public transit is excellent in Portugal, but sometimes it takes some searching to find just what you need. Best of all, the bus stops right in front of the Royal Palace of Mafra - makes it all so easy! Conspiracy Theory: Everyone wants you to use a guide service to get as much $$$ out of tourists as possible. I believe it.
My 1st day in Sintra pretty well did me in (Sintra 4). The 2nd day all I could manage was to get out of my room, climb the hill and find a restaurant, get some food, and go back to my room and just rest. It did leave me fresh for the trip to Mafra and that was good because there was a huge place to see and, literally, miles of walking to go through it.
Palacio de Mafra / Royal Palace of Mafra
IT IS BIG! From outside corner to corner the front spans a distance of about 767 feet. The building covers an area of almost 10 acres (406,768 Sq Ft), including 1,200 rooms, more than 4,700 doors and windows, 156 stairways and 29 inner yards and courtyards. The north turret was occupied by the king and the south turret by the queen, and both turrets are linked by a 761' gallery – making it Europe’s largest palatial corridor. Of course, only a small proportion is open to the piublic - and that is definitely enough.
The National Palace of Mafra was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019. The palace was built from 1717 to 1755 - 38 years!.
The Royal Palace occupies the noble floor of the Mafra building and the 2 turrets.
It boasts a large library thought to be one of the most beautiful in the world. The Royal Building has two carillons with 98 bells – the largest of its time. The Basilica’s 6 organs are pieces of unique heritage worldwide.
The Royal Convent and Palace of Mafra is the most important baroque monument in Portugal.
Library
One of the most important of the 18th Century with a collection of about 36,000 historic and priceless volumes dating from the 14th Century to the 19th Century.
Infirmary
The Palacio de Mafra was originally a monastery built by the King for the Franciscan monks. They originally used the main floor as a hospital for the regional population which is fascinating to visit since the furnishings give us a glimpse of the practices at the time.
Goddess of the Hunt
Video: Mafra Palace
Brief video of Ceiling of Hall of Diana
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Throne Room
Room of Faetonte
(Guard's Room)
Music Room /
Yellow Room
Sala dos Troféus / Trophy Room
An array of spoils from the hunts in the private game reserve decorate the walls while yet more antlers and pelts were turned into seating, chandeliers and tables.
Discoveries Room Ceiling
Video: Mafra Palace
Brief video of Discoveries Room and Ceiling
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(Gallery of the Basilica)
Video: Mafra Palace
Brief video of the Galilee
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Basilica
The basilica is 192 feet long and 141 feet wide, built with the format of a Latin cross. The dome of the basilica was the first built in Portugal and it’s 213 feet high with a diameter of 42 feet.
Some of the other high points of the Basilica include the 58 marble statues in the side aisles commissioned from the best sculptors of their time, the six historical organs of the 18th century, and the two carillons with 98 bells - the largest of their time.
Videos: of Mafra Palace
2 videos of Basilica walls and ceiling.
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