ARCHITECTURE WITH MUSIC
2021.03.28 - Mafra National Palace got our attention as a magnificent example that perfectly combines Music with beautiful Architecture. And for us, this is inspiring, it elevates your spirit and mind! The well-balanced classical architectural lines together with the unique sound produced by the large sized carillon bells that can be played like a music instrument, with a beautiful melody. In the 18th century, these were the largest-size carillons and bells, in the whole world. We are very curious to understand how they were installed there, in the bell towers, with a margin of only 5 cm distance, on each side, for some of the carillons and bells to enter the bell towers, which is remarkable, and a true case study. At that time, technology and machinery were quite different from the ones that we know today, which makes it more unique.
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On the 7th of July of 2019, Mafra National Palace, the Convent, and the Basilica became a UNESCO World Heritage site, and this marked a changing point in Mafra region. As architects, we briefly share our view about this magnificent Monument’s architecture, as well as about its history, and some peculiarities that witnessed its construction. Mafra National Palace represents the mastery of all the artists, artisans, sculptors, architects, engineers, constructors and all the workers who were connected, directly or indirectly, to its construction, creating a magic place with a special aura, in an unexpected location.
In 1717, the King of Portugal D. João V ordered the construction of Mafra National Palace in fulfilment of a promise for an heir. Mafra National Palace has a total area of approximately 37 800 square meters, which include around 1200 rooms, and was financed by a fifth of the gold coming from Brazil. The construction of Mafra Palace was directed by German architect and goldsmith Johann Friedrich Ludwig, strongly influenced by Italian architecture of the Baroque style, after several years living in Rome.
Mafra National Palace is a building with classical architectural lines visible from the main façade, and this area was dedicated to the King and Queen, where they had their rooms. Mafra Convent stands in the back side, as a large size infrastructure, which housed an increasing number of friars, reaching more than 300, in 1730. The Baroque style architectural lines can be seen inside Mafra National Palace, such as the Basilica. In the 18th century, there were 92 carillons and bells that were produced in Belgium, in Liège and Antwerp, specifically for Mafra Palace’s Basilica, where six large size organs can play at the same time, which is unique in the world. Currently, there are 119 bells and 2 carillons, after a restoration work that occurred recently, between May 2018 and December 2019, which allowed for the largest set of bells in the world to gain new life.
2021.04.08 - Mafra National Palace will soon become the National Music Museum, which is expected to be completed in 2023, with one of the richest european collections of music instruments, including some rare examples from the 16th to the 20th centuries, as mentioned in an article by Observador media. This news stands as a coincidence that relates with our previous article, connecting Music with Architecture.
