Mafra Palace: A Baroque Jewel of Portuguese Splendor
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Port
Lisbon, Portugal
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Activity Level
Moderate Activity
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At (prices in USD)
$140
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 4 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
UNESCO World Heritage Site Mafra Palace is a stunning example of Baroque architecture. Built in 1711, it houses one of Europe's most beautiful libraries, with 30,000 rare books. These are protected by tiny bats that hunt at night, devouring insects intent on damaging the pages of the library's rare and precious books.
The Basilica features 98 bells — one of the world's largest sets — and six historic organs restored in 2010. You may be lucky enough to hear the very same bells that chimed when the English army defeated Napoleon in the 18th century.
After your visit, stroll through Mafra's charming streets and visit its cafés to taste the famous Mafra bread or the traditional Fradinho sweets (at your own expense).