Royal Palace-Convent of Mafra

About this place

Begun in 1717 under John V, this vast complex unites a palace, monastery and basilica. Its scale expresses the resources and ambitions of the Portuguese monarchy. Look at the relationship between the religious and royal spaces to understand how the project brought them into one monument. The complex developed over much of the 18th century, with work extending beyond the initial foundation. Its joined functions make it a useful comparison with other Iberian palace-monasteries such as El Escorial. Both demonstrate how a ruler could combine private residence, worship and institutional life in one exceptionally ambitious building.