After 20 years of silence and a complex restoration process, the Carillons of the Mafra National Palace were played during a memorable inaugural concert that assembled over 6,000 people in the square in front of the Palace on the afternoon of 2nd February. These are the largest surviving set of 18th century carillon bells in the world.
This massive feat comes comes after the recent inscription of the Palace in UNESCO World Heritage list. The Carillons were listed among the 7 Most Endangered heritage assets in Europe in 2014 by Europa Nostra and the European Investment Bank Institute, following a nomination by the Centro Nacional de Cultura in 2014.
“…these magnificent carillons will now join the six pipe organs in making Mafra a mecca for music lovers, especially with the opening of the National Museum of Music in the Palace,” stated Maestro Plácido Domingo, President of Europa Nostra.
Find out more about the music and restoration of the organs and the Carillon bells at Europa Nostra.