Basílica of Mafra
The six organs were built at the time of King João VI, and some of them were in operation at the vespers during the departure of the royal family to Brazil. The project was handed to the organ-builders António Machado e Cerveira and Peres Fontanes. Forgotten during the Romantic era and promptly restored in the 20th century, this assembly continues to be one of the most exceptional centres of the world’s baroque organs, originally designed to enter into dialogue with each other in the same space, a project so ambitious, it has never been replicated. The restoration works by Dinarte Machado were begun in 1999, and they were heard for the first time on 15 May 2010.
Church of São Pedro (St. Peter), Ericeira
In the choir loft, we can find this organ, built in 1822 by the organ-builder José Carlos de Sousa Machado.
Church of São Silvestre (St. Sylvester), Gradil
In its choir is an organ made by António Machado e Cerveira, numbered 59, in the year 1801. Found to be in a poor state in 1988, the Parish Committee decided to restore it, giving this job to António Simões, who finished its fitting-out in 1990.
Church of Nossa Senhora do Livramento (Our Lady of Deliverance)
Its choir loft has an organ built by António Machado e Cerveira in 1787. The restoration work was carried out by Dinarte Machado in 2007.
Church of Nossa Senhora da Encarnação (Our Lady of Incarnation)
The choir has a chamber organ, dating from the second half of the 18th century, built by Bento Fontanes. The restoration work was carried out by Dinarte Machado in 2004
ECHO
ECHO – European Cities of Historical Organs – is an association of 8 cities of the European community, including Mafra, which possess historical organs, and which publicise them. ECHO encourages and organises activities for spreading knowledge about this historical heritage, not only in their cities but across borders.
In the words of Dino de Poli, honorary director of ECHO, “In today’s Europe, committed with new forms of aggregation more and more often distinguished by economic reasoning, it is extremely significant that eight cities from the same number of countries in the Old Continent, have used music, in particular organ music, as the uniting element for their twinning. In fact, in over five centuries musical history, each community entrusted skilful craftsmen with the task of making perfect instruments to be located in the choir lofts of Cathedrals, in Sanctuaries and in small Parish Churches”.