Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
maid in the garden and then dance a bolero, which he did 'in a delirium of romantic de-
light'.
Inside is like a chocolate box, with a gilded, mirror-lined Throne Room and Pedro IV's
bedroom where he slept under a circular ceiling, surrounded by
Don Quixote
murals. The
palace's vast kitchens now house a palatial restaurant,
Cozinha Velha
(
214 356 158; mains
€22-28; lunch & dinner)
.
Once you've seen the palace, live the life: the Royal Guard of the Court quarters have
been converted into the dazzling
Pousada de Dona Maria I
( 214 356 158;
www.pousadas.pt
; d incl
breakfast from €123; )
,
with high-ceilinged rooms that will make you feel as if you're at
home with the royals.
Getting There & Away
Queluz (keh-
loozh
) is 12km northwest of Lisbon and makes an easy day trip. Frequent
trains from Lisbon's Rossio station stop at Queluz-Belas (€1.55, 18 minutes).
TOP OF CHAPTER
Mafra
POP 11,000 / ELEV 250M
Mafra, 39km northwest of Lisbon, makes a superb day trip from Lisbon, Sintra or
Ericeira. It is home to Palácio Nacional de Mafra, Portugal's extravagant monastery-
palace hybrid with 1200 rooms. Nearby is the beautiful former royal park, Tapada Nacion-
al de Mafra, once a hunting ground and still teeming with wild animals and plants.
The monumental palace facade dominates the town. Opposite is a pleasant square,
Praça da República, which is lined with cafes and restaurants. Mafra's bus terminal is
1.5km northwest but buses also stop in front of the palace.
Sights
Palácio Nacional de Mafra
( 261 817 550; adult/child €6/free, free 10am-2pm Sun; 10am-5.30pm Wed-Mon)
Wild-spending Dom
João V poured pots of Brazilian gold into this baroque palace, covering a mind-boggling 4
sq km and comprising a monastery and basilica. Begun in 1717, the exuberant mock-
PALACE
