The National Palace of Mafra and the Bom Jesus de Braga sanctuary were inscribed today on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites. Portugal now has 17 classified sites.
The UNESCO committee decided to integrate the set composed by the Palace, Basilica, Convent, Garden of the Siege and Tapada de Mafra as World Heritage. The same distinction was given to the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus, in Braga. The meeting took place in Baku, capital of Azerbaijan.
In a note published on the website of the Presidency of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa considers that this decision “is a reason to rejoice for the President of the Republic and for all the Portuguese“.
The Head of State “heartily” salutes the promoters of these candidatures, “the mayors, diplomats, civil and ecclesiastical authorities, and all those who, also in civil society, help to take the Portuguese physical, historical, artistic, religious or intellectual heritage further“.
The Minister of Culture also reacted in the same way, with Graça Fonseca stressing “the importance of these distinctions, which recognise the diversity of two magnificent Portuguese monuments, living testimonies of our history, heritage and culture“.
