Portuguese Royal Palaces, Castles and other Buildings

[Sereta]

Originally Posted by Marengo

Picture 1: the impressive portal to the Cathedral:

The detail on this facade is just exquisite! Must've taken a long time to create all of it.

[JSP]

Originally Posted by amedea

Is it possible to visit Belem Palace and Necessidades Palace even if the host the precidency and the foreign minister?

Belém Palace is the official residence of the President.

It is opened very few days each year.

Necessidades Palace nowaday is the Foreign Office Head Office.
Usually it is not opened.
I visited it last year at Europe day, the day the EU had its 50th birthday.
I think you may visit it if you would write to the Head-Secretary of the FO.
Don't write to the Minister !
In spite of being a non-existing person he has nothing to do with that.
The Head Secretary is the lady that superintends the maintenamce of the Palace.
Our fellow poster Alberto (the very much anti-miguelist poster ) has the proper contacts
Right, Alberto ?
Zé

[Regina]

Originally Posted by JSP

Don't write to the Minister !
In spite of being a non-existing person he has nothing to do with that.

hehe you made me laugh with your comment, JSP! You're right.

Well, about the palaces:

Sol's magazine - tabu (Nº 157) interviewed the only citizen of Mafra Palace

His name is Gil Magens, 82 years old, and he is a symbolic guardian of the palace. He was born in the palace and after the republic revolution, his family and other families were allowed to continue living there.

His father attended the Royal School of Mafra, he served as a military and was also a guardian of this palace while Dom Carlos was still a King.

Mr. Gil Magens never left the country, he lives alone is his big (!) house :) and he's happy remembering the past.

Gil Magens

Magens in his Palace

His room

Room 2

room 3

[Marengo]

I am reading 'Equador' by Miguel Sousa Tavares and in the book the main character visits the Bragança palace in Vila Viçosa to visit Dom Carlos. So that made me look for some images and the palace is even more beautiful than the description:

http://fotos.sapo.pt/1yBilW8b0QLKNPVAwLNy/

http://calipolensebasket.files.wordp...acioducal3.jpg

[Juanita]

The Palace is very beautiful. In 2008, a portuguese television made a television series, based on that book.
Here a few parts which might interest you, Marengo, since you can see the palace:

YouTube - Equador - Episódio 02/30 (Parte 3/8) (28-Dez-2008)

(until 1:15)

YouTube - Equador - Episódio 01/30 (Parte 5/6) (21-Dez-2008)

(from 4:43 to 5:16).
Hope you enjoy it :)

This (tv production) was one of the most fantastic piece of portuguese "art" I've ever seen, too bad it isn't translated into english.

[JSP]

I read an interview with Miguel Sousa Tavares at the time they were fiming "Equador".
he was very angry that Fundação da Casa de Bragança did not allow filming inside the Palace.
So in the film you see the characters arriving in front of the palace, but the indoors scenes were filmed elsewhere.

José

[jonc93]

I found virtual tours for 6 Portuguese palaces if anyone's interested :)

Palacio da Ajuda
Virtual Tour
Palacio de Mafra
Virtual Tour
Palacio de Queluz (My favorite)
Virtual Tour
and also here
Palácio de Queluz - Visita Virtual 360°
Palacio de Sintra
Virtual Tour
Palacio da Pena
Visita Virtual ao Palacio Nacional da Pena em Sintra
And Palacio de Vila Vicosa ( Where D. Carlos spent his last night before the Regicide, you can actually see his room)
Paço Ducal de Vila Viçosa - Visita Virtual em 360°

If you want the links where you can find them all here they are:
Palacios e Solares de Portugal em panoramas 360°

& here
Instituto dos Museus e da Conservação - Visitas Virtuais

[Thomas.of.Sintra]

Knowing that the Royal Palace of Ajuda was never completed, I have come to the question of whether it shall ever be completed. even only being 1/3 done it is an amazing palace, and it would be a shame to never finish such a beauty.