The Mafra National Palace used to be a Royal Convent, that was ordered by king John V of Portugal after his wife gave birth to the first child. This masterpiece of the Baroque in Portugal is the largest monument in the country and also one of the largest construction efforts ever built in Portugal. It’s a massive structure which covers an area of four hectares, has 1200 rooms and more than 4700 doors and windows. 

The Royal Convent was never a permanent royal residence, though it was decorated as such by the finest Portuguese and Italian masters.

The Wooden Rococo Bookshelfes of the grand Mafra Palace Library hold some 36,000 leather-bound volumes dating from the 14th to the 19th centuries including some rare jewels like incunabula (printed books prior to the year 1500) or forbidden books that found shelter during the Inquisition period

Book-eating pests would pose a great threat to these old tomes were it not for the inch-long bats who patrol the library at night.

Upon its completion in 1755, the magnificent Palace of Mafra immediately staked its claim as one of the national treasures of Portuguese architecture. And within the palace sits an equally impressive library, which ranks among the finest in Europe.