Page 156 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Portugal

EXPERIENCE MORE

3 "'
Palácio de Mafra 1717
! D5 ⌂ Terreiro de Dom Palácio de Mafra began,
EXPERIENCE The Lisbon Coast 5:30pm Wed–Mon (last and art works were taken to
Construction of the
João V, Mafra @ From Lisbon
q Campo Grande, then
@ Ericeira # 9:30am–
a project so ambitious
it almost bankrupted
adm 4:45pm) ¢ 1 Jan,
the state.
Easter, 1 May, 25 Dec
∑ palaciomafra. gov.pt
This massive Baroque palace
Brazil when the royal family
and monastery were built
during the reign of João V, and
began with a vow by the young in 1807. The monastery was
king to build a new monastery
abandoned in 1834 following
and basilica, supposedly in escaped the French invasion
the disso lution of all religious
return for an heir. Work began orders, and the palace itself Natural rock pool at the
in 1717 on a modest project was abandoned in 1910. coastal town of Azenhas
but, as wealth began to pour The tour starts in the do Mar, near Colares
into the royal coffers from rooms of the monastery,
Brazil, the king and his Italian- through the pharmacy, with
trained architect, Johann some alarming medical gold-embossed leather
Friedrich Ludwig (1670–1752), instru ments, to the infirmary, bindings, including a prized
made ever more extravagant where patients could see and first edition of Os Lusíadas
plans. No expense was spared: hear mass in the adjoining (1572) by the Portuguese poet
the finished project housed chapel from their beds. Luís de Camões (1524–80).
330 friars, a royal palace and Upstairs, the sumptuous
one of the finest libraries in state rooms extend across the
Europe, decorated with pre- whole of the west façade, with 4
cious marble, exotic wood the King’s apartments at one
and countless works of art. end and the queen’s apart- Colares
The magnificent basilica was ments at the other. Midway, ! D5 @ n Cabo da Roca;
consecrated on the king’s 41st the long, imposing façade is 219 280 081
birth day, 22 October 1730. relieved by the twin towers
The palace was only popular of the domed basilica. The On the lower slopes of the
with those members of the church’s interior is decorated Serra de Sintra, this lovely
royal family who enjoyed in con trasting colours of mar- village faces the sea over a
hunting deer and wild boar. ble and furnished with six green valley. A leafy avenue
Most of the finest furniture early 19th-century organs. winds its way up to the village.
Mafra’s greatest treasure, Small quantities of the famous
however, is its library, with Colares wine are still made.
its Rococo-style wooden The hardy vines grow
bookcases, and a coll ection in sandy soil, with the
of over 40,000 books in roots set deep in

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