Photography: RR
Visits to the Mafra National Palace will have a 50% discount until September 30 due to the reduction in visiting circuits as a result of the “shortage of surveillance personnel”, recently announced the Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage (DGPC).
In an order signed at the end of June by the Cultural Heritage General Director, Bernardo Alabaça, it can be read that “with the reopening to the public on the 18th of May of the services dependent on the DGPC, there is a shortage of surveillance personnel in Mafra National Palace, due to the pandemic situation that makes it impossible for some workers to show up at work”.
As a consequence, visits to the palace were reduced, which – according to Lusa agency – led the director of the National Palace, Mário Pereira, to propose a reduction in ticket prices.
discount can be revoked if there is a resumption of normal visiting circuits
This way, it was decided to apply a 50% discount until September 30, which can however be revoked if there is a resumption of normal visiting circuits.
All museums, monuments and palaces under the DGPC administration were closed on March 15 as part of several measures to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. These spaces came to be authorized to reopen on the International Museum Day, on May 18th.
“Mafra National Palace is a Baroque architectural ensemble, formed by a Royal Palace, a Basilica and a Convent. It has important collections of Italian sculpture, Italian and Portuguese painting, a unique library, as well as two carrilons, six historic organs and a hospital from the 18th century. The Palace is part of the Network of European Royal Residences ”, stresses the DGPC website, and it should also be added that it has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list for about a year.
Last year, Mafra National Palace was visited by more than 360 thousand people, having amounted an increase of 5.9% compared to 2018.
Esta publicação também está disponível em | This article is also available in: Portuguese (Portugal)
