[outside from Mafra National Palace]

The Mafra National Palace is a HUGE monument located in Mafra, Portugal. Its dimensions are so huge that it dwarfs the city.

The palace, which also served as a Franciscan monastery, was built during the reign of King John V (1707-1750), in consequence of a vow made by the king in 1711, who promised to build a convent if his wife, the Queen Mary Anne of Austria, gave him descendants. The birth of his first daughter, the princess Barbara of Braganza, made the king initiate the construction of the palace.

This vast complex is among the most sumptuous Baroque buildings in Portugal and one of the biggest buildings constructed in Europe in the 18th century.

[First 2 shots were taken in the morning and the others in the afternoon]

Stunning Buildings !! great shots .. finbarr · 2010-02-19: 18:29

bellissime foto.... ciao! borogovoi · 2010-02-19: 18:36

Great colours! Wasichseh · 2010-02-19: 18:42

Ricky, one of my favorite things about PhotoBlog is that we get to see beautiful pictures, but we get to learn so many interesting things! I really like that your posts include a narrative about the photos. I especially love the dark clouds surrounding the building in the first shot. Thanks for a great post! djnana · 2010-02-19: 18:46

Amazing work, and stunning colors! I like it Ole365 · 2010-02-19: 20:03

Interesting, informative post. Thanks, Ricky! lgnelson · 2010-02-19: 20:20

Impressive building - stunning shots. Jarvo · 2010-02-19: 20:48

I love your set! Amazing building shots :) wanazza · 2010-02-19: 21:20

Super set - love the difference between morning and afternoon :-) jet28 · 2010-02-20: 02:47

Impressive buildings! ????? · 2010-02-20: 05:08

wow, great captures ricky!! love the last one!! jennye · 2010-02-20: 05:57

All is its really beautiful! ????? · 2010-02-20: 06:47

awesome building and shots, like your angles GKorts · 2010-02-20: 07:34

Wow,beautiful! nodzu · 2010-02-20: 09:39

I got to get closer to my screen to red twice cos I saw: The MAFIA instead if mafra lol,,,Im getting old, it is clear :)))) I like th efirst one a lot, has wonderful colours! TIM927 · 2010-02-20: 10:03

awesome Ricky!!!!!!!!!!!!~ urmysunshine · 2010-02-20: 10:19

Very nice pictures and info Ricky.. one little piece of advice.. when u edit photos try a little carefully. U see that weird halo around the photos? They can ruin sometimes the best of photos! soubhagya · 2010-02-20: 10:50

wow! great pictures! #1 and #4 look like hdr. and the Palace looks monumental! alicew · 2010-02-20: 11:14

Great set Ricky. Fantastic architecture, and wonderful clouds in the final one. (You know how I love clouds!) SADHYA · 2010-02-20: 11:24

Awesome shots. I like no.1 a lot. ????? · 2010-02-20: 11:46

I'm really loving the 4th shot! rakiOo · 2010-02-20: 12:09

So you are experimenting HDR ?? Very good results for your first attempts !! jrregaldie · 2010-02-20: 13:07

I LOVE the first one. Looks so foreboding. . . :o) ????? · 2010-02-20: 13:36

amazing shots! very impressive architecture! Eiram · 2010-02-20: 15:52

great shots and color! thebronzebow · 2010-02-20: 17:54

Cada vez melhor :)* JaCkYe · 2010-02-20: 18:24

You know what? I think everyone should just nickname you.. the photostud .... you take some awesome shots and you are so creative. I think we all love ya mister for doing such a good job. Your buddy, Dave Dave · 2010-02-20: 21:22

Grandes fotos ;) Voltei* agurliced · 2010-02-20: 22:10

Wonderful set, I love the first one agandia · 2010-02-20: 23:37

Love the perspective in the last shot! DancingDolphin · 2010-02-21: 01:48

Nice set, neat place. ;o) Ryana · 2010-02-21: 04:39

great shots, orginal ricky:---) ????? · 2010-02-21: 06:01

I like the morning shots the most! the colors are so unreal and dreamy! Seems a marvelous parallel world! :-) YUKJA · 2010-02-21: 08:03

Absolutely love #1...all are great...love the perspectives :)) lynnsgallery2 · 2010-02-21: 08:48

Beautiful set! pandka · 2010-02-21: 09:10

Espero que recebe uma medalha do ministério do turismo por divulgar nossos tesouros. Este convento é o máximo e gosto das fotos tiradas de tarde, sempre se vê o nosso famoso céu azul. :) Unchained · 2010-02-21: 12:53

Ok, whoever you are...can we please have our Ricky back now? We will pay the random fee...honest :-)) ????? · 2010-02-21: 14:32

Well done impressive so differnt than what you usually shoot mystic1 · 2010-02-21: 14:33

stunning views. #5 is interesting angle. miltonjacob · 2010-02-21: 16:28

Lovely set! love No 5 . Did Ted mean random fee? or Ransom fee? lol Riyaz · 2010-02-22: 04:38

WOW!! Ricky, did you make HDR in #1? It's impressive! ????? · 2010-02-22: 14:30

I love these too. I like 1 and 3. Very good exposure in 3. ????? · 2010-02-22: 23:02

nice work. zubair · 2010-02-24: 22:12

WOW! WOW! WOW! BlasiusW · 2010-03-09: 13:52

^ l onlymehdi · 2010-03-09: 17:19

GREAT BUILDING criss · 2010-03-10: 03:56

Tagged: palace monestary mafra portugal