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Mafra Accommodation
Mafra Guest & Manor Houses
Mafra Holiday Rental Agents
Mafra Hotels
Mafra Hotels & Spa
Mafra Entertainment
Mafra - Restaurants
Mafra - What to Do
Mafra Golf Courses
Belas Clube Campo Golf Course
Lisbon Sports Club Golf Course
Melia Capuchos Golf Golf Course
Oitavos Dunes Golf Course
Quinta da Marinha Golf Course
Estoril Golf Course
Ribagolfe I Golf Course
Ribagolfe II Golf Course
Santo Estevao Golf Course
Quinta do Peru Golf Course
Beloura
Penha Longa Atlantico
Penha Longa Mosteiro
Mafra - History
Located to the north of Lisboa is the impressive Palácio de Mafra
in the small town of the same name. It was commenced in 1717 in the reign of
Dom João V. The initial project was less ambitious in size. The King
committed himself to his church to build a new monastery for 13 Franciscan
friars as a seal of his faith and in penance for his well-known sexual
extravagances. During its long history the Palace has been mainly used by
the Royal Family as a home when hunting in its adjoining forest for deer and
wild boar. The monastery was abandoned in 1834 after Dom João V
had dissolved all religious orders. The Royal quarters were last used by
Dom Manuel II as an overnight resting-place on his escape to England
in 1910 aboard his yacht moored at the nearby port of Ericeira. (Visit - Portugal History)
Mafra - Description
This impressive Baroque Palace when finished was enlarged to include 880
rooms and 330 cells for its monks. It also includes a small hospital and
pharmacy, and a prize library. Beautifully housed are about 36.000 rare
books that include a first edition of “Os Lusíadas” by the famous
Portuguese poet Luís de Camões. This enlargement of the palace was
made feasible by the vast wealth that suddenly flooded into the Royal
coffers from Brazil. Besides its Basilica full of marble statues carved by
Italian masters of that time, it also has separate royal suites for the King
and his Queen linked by an extremely lengthy corridor that stretches 232
meters across the front of the Palace. It can only be assumed that this
acted as a timely warning when either party was entertaining privately and
was about to receive a Royal visitor. This large Palace was inaugurated in
1730 with a notable celebration that lasted eight days and included most of
the 52.000 workmen who had been involved in its construction. Most of its
interior furnishings were removed to Brazil when the King fled to Brazil in
1807 to avoid the invading French army. At present the Basilica is
undergoing a renovation program and the first organ of the existing six has
been restored. The organ was built in 1807 and consists of 1578 tubes.
The forest covered estate attached to the town and it now can be visited on
foot, by vehicle or horseback. The estate is kept well stocked with wild
game including boar and there is a museum with a small collection of antique
horse drawn vehicles. Nearby is a Nature Centre for the Preservation of the
Iberian Wolf which is also open to the public.
Mafra - Nearby Locations
To the west of Mafra is the small port of Ericeira that
retains a village atmosphere regardless of the invasion it suffers every
summer from Lisbon populace. First recorded as in town in 1229 it was here
that Mateus Álvares falsely declared himself King and locally
attempted to act as such before he was arrested and sentenced to the galleys
whilst all his supporters were hanged.
With its small fishing industry Ericeira is well known for its choice
of restaurants offering the fresh catch of the day. There is a small museum
in the town with items recording the flight of their King in 1910 and the
history of the local fishermen and their boats. On the coast and to the
south of Ericeira is the beach village of São Julião, where at
the end of the tarmac road is a small Monastery originating from the 16th
Century. To the west of Mafra, between the town and the coastline is
the village of Sobreiro where visitors can see the fascinating clay
model village and its figures created by José(Zé) Franco. To the
north of Mafra is the town of Torres Vedras overlooked by its
restored 13th Century castle walls. Within the 16th Century Convento da
Graça is a museum devoted to the epic story of of the “Linhas de
Torres Vedras”.
In October of the year 1809, a defensive line of fortification was commenced
on the order of the commander of the British Forces, Sir Arthur Wellesley.
It was built to protect Lisbon in the south from the invading Napoleonic
Army and was in total over 85 Kms. in length, with 152 fortified positions
and over 600 defending guns. The leader of the French army of 65.000 troops
General Masséna, after testing its effectiveness and realizing its
was almost impregnable fell back and he and his army retreated. Sir
Arthur Wellesley was later to be awarded amongst others the title of
"Duke of Wellington”.
Visual Info and in Portuguese
Mafra Weather (detailed)
Detailed Ericeira weather conditions
Detailed Foz do Lizandro weather conditions
Detailed Praia de Santa Cruz weather conditions
Detailed Ribeira das Ilhas weather conditions
Mafra Old House
· Ericeira
· Ericeira
· Ericeira
· Convento de Mafra
· Mafra Convento State Room
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Mafra Events |
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| Festa dos Merendeiros |
4th April |
| Feira dos Alhos |
3rd Sunday July |
| Festival International de
Música de Mafra |
October |
Lisbon Coast Towns
Cascais
· Estoril
· Lisbon
· Queluz
· Sesimbra
· Setúbal
· Sintra
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Useful Mafra Telephone Numbers
2640
