Top 8 Castles around Loures

The National Palace of Mafra, located in the town of Mafra, Portugal, is a monumental complex that includes a palace, a convent, a basilica, and the Tapada de Mafra (hunting grounds). Construction began in 1717, commissioned by King John V of Portugal in fulfillment of a vow for the succession of his wife, and it is the most important monument of Portuguese Baroque. Since 2019, the Palace has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The archaeological site of Castelo de São Jorge showcases exposed walls, foundations, and traces of settlements from various eras of Lisbon. A tour of the site offers a glimpse into how people lived and worked here in the past – right beneath the present-day castle walls. It's a fascinating excursion for anyone who wants to combine the view with a bit of urban history.

Behind the simple facade on Rua das Portas de Santo Antão lies one of the city's most magnificent palaces – a true architectural gem. What now serves as a cultural center and restaurant was originally built in the 17th century as the city palace of the Alverca family. The magnificent rooms, with their Moorish and neo-Baroque elements, speak of bygone splendors. Access to the courtyard in front of the restaurant is free, but in return, quiet and consideration for the "actual" guests are expected. ;-)

There are guided tours available explaining the site. Otherwise, it is just old walls.

A beautiful and multifaceted city, wonderful Lisbon 🫶 🇵🇹

Baroque architectural complex comprising a Palace, a Basilica and a Convent, together with gardens and a vast Tapada, forming a historical heritage complex covering over 1,200 hectares, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2019. Built by order of King João V in fulfilment of a succession vow, Mafra Palace is one of the most important Baroque monuments in Portugal and one of the largest in Europe, occupying a construction area of 38,000 m2, with around 1,200 rooms, 5,200 doors and windows and 156 staircases. UNESCO has recognised this monument as a feat of architecture, engineering and human genius. Based on designs by Filippo Juvarra, its final design was carried out by the German Johann Friedrich Ludwig (João Frederico Ludovice) and construction was led by the kingdom's chief engineer, Custódio Vieira. The first stone was laid on 17 November 1717 and the Basilica was consecrated on 22 October 1730. The Basilica, inspired by the great churches of Rome, has one of the most significant collections of Italian sculpture of its time, with 58 statues, a large crucifix with archangels in adoration and three high reliefs, as well as an important collection of paintings, representing some of the most famous painters active in Italy and France in the early 1730s. The collection of vestments and liturgical implements is also very significant, due to its quality and rarity. The Palace Library is one of the most iconic spaces in the monument. With a refined selection of around 30,000 volumes, it is one of the exponents of Enlightenment knowledge representative of the court culture of the first half of the 18th century. Also noteworthy is the bell ringing ensemble, with 120 bells, which include two of the largest carillons of the 18th century, cast in Antwerp and Liège in the workshops of Willem Witlockx and Nicolas Levache, respectively. The bells are accompanied by two clocks dating from the first half of the 18th century, as well as four automatons for automatic music. Inside the Basilica is a set of pipe organs, unique in the world, consisting of six instruments designed to play together, built between 1792 and 1807 by the Portuguese organ builders António Machado e Cerveira and Joaquim Peres Fontanes. The Mafra Palace has been a member of the Association of European Royal Residences since 2009.

Mafra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The palace is always worth a trip to see it, to tour the rooms, visit the church and enjoy a Galao and a Tosta Mista in the café directly opposite. This stop is a highlight for all cyclists on the various tours around Mafra.

When you reach the last roundabout and see this building for the first time, you are deeply impressed by how big the palace is. A must see if you are in this area.