On the arrival, walk through the town square and hear the backstory behind this former royal retreat. Mafra is a city and a municipality in the district of Lisbon, on the west coast of Portugal and in the “saloia” (rustic) area, which used to supply the capital with garden produce. Famous for its imposing Palace-Convent, the largest edifice in Portugal, also inspired Portuguese Nobel Prize laureate José Saramago to write his novel “Memorial do Convento” (Baltasar and Blimunda). Other points of interest around are the Tapada Nacional de Mafra (also part of the UNESCO site), an enclosed wildlife and game reserve, and Ericeira’s World Surf Reserve, the first and only in Europe.

Taste Fradinho, a local pastry made from white beans, almonds and egg yolks… a regional classic, accompanied with a coffee.

Explore the Mafra National Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site that blends Baroque excess with royal devotion. The Mafra National Palace which also served as a Franciscan friary, was built during the reign of King John V (1717–1755). The palace was conveniently located near royal hunting preserves, and was usually a secondary residence for the royal family.

This vast complex, largely built of Lioz stone, a type of limestone, is among the most sumptuous Baroque buildings in Portugal and at 40,000 m2, one of the largest royal palaces. Designed by the German architect Johann Friedrich Ludwig, the palace was built symmetrically from a central axis, occupied by the basilica, and continues lengthwise through the main façade until two major towers. The structures of the convent are located behind the main façade. The building also includes a major library, with over 30,000 rare books, it’s one of Europe’s largest collections.

The facade is 220 meters long. The whole complex covers 37,790 m2 with about 1,200 rooms, more than 4,700 doors and windows, and 156 stairways.

The basilica features a Latin cross measuring 60 meters long and 43 meters wide. From the entrance, on each side, there are three chapels, with Italian statuary and high-relief altarpieces from the Mafra School of Sculpture.

In the transept, on the left, is the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament (or the Coronation of the Virgin Mary), and on the opposite side, the Chapel of the Holy Family. The main chapel is dedicated to the Virgin and Child and Saint Anthony, consisting of a stone altarpiece and a large screen. Above the transept, an imposing dome rises 65 meters high.

The six organs of the Royal Basilica of Mafra constitute a unique ensemble in the world, as they were designed to play simultaneously.

The two bell towers house the world’s most important historical bell ensemble, consisting of 120 bells, ranging in weight from 2.7 kg to 12 tons, organized into three groups: the hourly bells, the liturgical bells, and the carillon bells.

The two carillons each have a range of four octaves and were cast in 1730 in Liège, in the workshops of Nicolau Levache (46 for the north tower) and in Antwerp, in the foundry of Willem Witlockx (47 for the south tower).

Associated with the bells are two clocks, the largest of their time in Europe, made in the Netherlands, which also feature musical automatisms with four cylinders and nine musical tracks.

It’s the Baroque garden par excellence and a must-see for anyone visiting Mafra.

The Jardim do Cerco is a beautifully illuminated masterpiece, reflecting pools, wide paths, leafy trees, and a centuries-old waterwheel still in operation are some of the attractions of this Versailles-inspired Garden.

The woods and gardens extend over eight hectares, offering nooks, shaded areas, waterfalls, and even a unique vegetable garden: the Horta dos Frades where plants used in medicinal products (a pharmacy).

Drive back to Lisbon meeting point to drop off at 2pm.