Social Program

1st July - Welcome Party

The welcome party will held in the end of the sessions in the Hotel VIP Zurique (6:15 pm).

3rd July - Excursion

The departure for the excursion will be at 2:00 pm.

First Stop: Palace of Mafra

The Palace of Mafra is a monumental Baroque and Italianized Neoclassical palace-monastery located in Mafra, some 28 kilometres from Lisbon. Construction began in 1717 and was completely concluded in 1755. The palace was classified as a National Monument in 1910, and was also one of the finalists of the Seven Wonders of Portugal.

The palace, which also served as a Franciscan monastery, was built during the reign of King John V (1707–1750), as consequence of a vow the king made in 1711, to build a convent if his wife, Queen Mariana, gave him offspring. The birth of his first daughter the Infanta Barbara of Portugal, prompted construction of the palace to begin. The palace was conveniently located near royal hunting preserves, and was usually a secondary residence for the royal family.

This vast complex is among the most sumptuous Baroque buildings in Portugal and at 40,000 m², one of the largest royal palaces. The building also includes a major library, with about 36,000 rare books. The basilica is decorated with several Italian statues and includes six historical pipe organs and two carillons, composed of 98 bells.

Second Stop: Óbidos

After this visit, we continue to the mediaeval town of Óbidos, one of the most picturesque and well preserved in Portugal.

Located on high ground near the Atlantic coast, 40 minutes from Mafra Palace, Óbidos has had a strategic importance in the territory. It had already been settled prior to the Romans’ arrival in the Iberian Peninsula, and the town prospered after being chosen by the royal family.

King Dinis offered it to his wife, Queen Isabel, in the 13th century, and it became part of Casa das Rainhas (Queens’ Estate), who improved and enriched it throughout the various dynasties. This is one of the main reasons for the high concentration of churches in this small place.

You will find a well preserved castle within the walls, and a maze of streets and white houses that are a delight to stroll amongst. Along with the Manueline style porticoes, the colorful window boxes and the small squares, many fine examples of religious and civil architecture from the town’s golden days provide a host of reasons for making a visit.

4th July - Conference dinner

The conference dinner will held in Estoril and the participants should take the conferences bus at 7:30 pm.