The story of Queen Maria I, the first undisputed queen who ruled Portugal, is a materialised epic of devotion, cultural expansion, and pioneering leadership. Ascending the throne in 1777, she is fondly remembered in her homeland as Maria a Piedosa ("Maria the Pious") due to her profound faith and deep commitment to charity. Her most spectacular legacy in Lisbon is the magnificent Basílica da Estrela, a grand limestone sanctuary she built to fulfil a sacred vow after the birth of her son. Her remains are also actually buried here, in a tomb that truly invites one to think about life and death.

Maria’s reign was marked by significant progress, including the founding of the Royal Academy of Sciences and the expansion of trade throughout the empire. She brought a gentler, more benevolent style of governance to the nation, winning the respect of her subjects. After the French Revolution, Napoleon’s forces reached closer to Portugal. She actually took over royal duties in Brazil starting from 1807 and took the royal court with her on the voyage.