Restoration of the Royal Chapel of the National Palace of Queluz – The return of the pipe organ

The comprehensive conservation and restoration project for the Royal Chapel of the National Palace of Queluz encompasses an array of techniques aimed at ensuring the space can be better enjoyed, while also reintegrating the 18th-century pipe organ, which is returning to its original location after more than 100 years.

This instrument, made by Machado and Cerveira, is also under restoration. It is thought to have originally belonged to the Bemposta Palace and to have been brought to Queluz in 1778. Installed in the Chapel's Upper Choir, it remained there until 1916, when it was completely dismantled. Only its front was left on the right side of the Upper Choir, but even that part of the instrument was removed in 1988, leaving the Chapel without any trace of the organ until today.

To install this instrument – which has 2428 pipes in total – a space must be created to house all its mechanics, requiring the renovation of the event support room located on the lower floor of the Chapel.

The Royal Chapel is one of the oldest rooms in the National Palace of Queluz and, as a space dedicated to contemplation and religious celebrations typical of its time, it was the venue for small royal ceremonies and private masses of the Royal Family. It was designed by the architect Mateus Vicente de Oliveira in the 18th century and embodies the typical features of its author: colours, light, the use of the dome in such a small space (an element always present in the religious buildings he designed) and forms.

The altarpiece by André Gonçalves in the chancel depicts Our Lady of the Conception, the patron saint of Queluz; and the panels of the side altars, alluding to Saint Francis of Paola and the imprisonment of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, were painted by Pedro Alexandrino.

As part of this project, all the decorative panelling will be conserved and restored. The project also includes restoration of contiguous spaces such as the Sacristy, the adjacent rooms, the private areas of the upper floor and the connecting areas between the two floors with the aim of improving visitor experience of the Palace.