The dominant feature of the town of Mafra, lying in a cleft between the hills, is the monastery, begun in 1717 and completed only 18 years later. King João V made a vow to build a monastery at Mafra if his wife Maria Anna of Austria would give him a son. The joy of having a son matched the grandeur of the project: a 220 metre long façade, stone and marble, used in enormous quantities, statues carved in Italy and brought here with great difficulty. and brought here safely and with great labour, huge bells.
<the rooms="" of="" the="" sumptuous="" palace="" occupy="" entire="" monumental="" western="" façade.="" with="" royal="" apartments="" at="" one="" end="" and="" queen's="" other.="" interior="" basilica,="" made="" marble="" contrasting="" colours,="" is="" decorated="" baroque="" sculptures="" by="" 18th="" century="" portuguese="" craftsmen.="" splendid="" library="" floors,="" wooden="" bookshelves="" in="" rococo="" style,="" houses="" a="" large="" number="" books.="" style="" holds="" more="" than="" 40,000="" books="" leather="" gold="" cases.
