Mafra, Portogallo

Mafra

Mafra is a historic Portuguese town, the seat of a municipality, located approximately a 45-minute drive from Lisbon. It stands out as a town rich in history and tradition, with a significant cultural offering reflected in numerous festivities, notably the Concert of the Six Organs in January. It is a place of gastronomy and wine, with a particular emphasis on bread, fresh cheese, Rocha pear, strawberries, lemons, and various culinary specialties. The locality of Ericeira, within Mafra, is home to Europe’s only World Surfing Reserve. The Municipality of Mafra is a location where investment and entrepreneurship play increasingly important roles in Portugal’s economic development, through the construction of projects such as Ericeira Business Factory and Mafra Business Factory, featuring startup incubators and coworking spaces. The quality of life and the fact that Mafra is the youngest municipality in Portugal are factors driving high demand for residency.
The town’s landscape is characterized by the imposing Mafra Palace, with its yellow main facade, the Mafra Hunting Park within the convent’s grounds, the single-story houses, and numerous traditional shops and organizations.

Top 10 Attractions to Visit in Mafra

National Palace of Mafra, lithograph from 1853

1. National Palace of Mafra: This is a Monastery in Mafra built in fulfillment of a vow made by King John V to God, promising to erect a convent if Queen Maria Ana of Austria bore him an heir. The convent was to be built in Mafra because since the 17th century, the Franciscan Order had desired it, due to the abundance of gold from Brazil and the birth of his son as wished. Construction of the Mafra Palace began in 1717, designed by architect Johann Friedrich Ludwig, and spanned several years and phases, including the basilica in 1730, the Royal Hunting Park of Mafra in 1747, the Library between 1792 and 1807, the reconstruction of the three hunting parks with walls in 1838, and the construction of King Carlos I’s Hunting Lodge in 1900. During the reign of King Joseph, the Mafra School of Sculpture was established, directed by Alessandro Giusti. This school trained some of Portugal’s greatest sculptors, including Machado de Castro.

The Mafra Palace comprises 1200 rooms, 4700 doors and windows, 156 staircases, 92 bells, 6 historical organs, and 58 large sculptures, representing the largest collection of Italian Baroque statuary outside of Italy, crafted from Carrara marble. It also features a library spanning 38,000 square meters with 30,000 volumes.
The National Palace of Mafra is structured as follows:

• Royal Palace: Built as a country residence with over 600 rooms. Key points of interest include the Hall of Blessing, the Audience Hall or Throne Room, the Hunting Room, Diana’s Room, the Music Room, and the Royal Apartments;
• Convent: Built to house 300 friars. Highlights include the Boxwood Garden, infirmary, and kitchen;
• Basilica of Our Lady and Saint Anthony of Mafra: Constructed in the Baroque style, it was consecrated on October 22, 1730, the 41st birthday of King John V. Following the consecration, 328 friars arrived to occupy the convent. The basilica has an approximate area of 60 meters in length and 40 meters in width. Notable features include the Dome, located over 60 meters high, the six pipe organs, and two carillons with 92 bells, commissioned from artisans in Antwerp and Liège, making it considered the largest set of carillons in the world. The basilica incorporates eleven chapels;
• Cerco Garden
  Highlights of the National Palace of Mafra include:
• Main Facade: The monumental scale of the National Palace of Mafra is evident, with its 232-meter-long facade, considered the longest corridor in all of Europe’s royal palaces. The imposing bell towers, the four-sided turrets at each end of the facade, the north turret dedicated to the King’s apartments and the south turret to the Queen’s apartments, the Ionic columns, and the pediment with images of the Virgin and Child with Saint Anthony, sculpted by Giuseppe Lironi;
• Galilee: The 14 sculptures of saints made in Italy, including figures of Saint Vincent, Saint Sebastian, Saint Dominic, Saint Francis of Assisi, and Saint Ignatius;
• Library of the National Palace of Mafra: This is an 18th-century Joanine Library, built in the palace’s largest hall, approximately 85 meters long and 10 meters wide. The 136 bookshelves, holding around 36,000 books, are arranged over two floors, with volumes on all subjects, more than half of the collection being on Religion. The library’s construction began in the late 18th century with the cataloging by Friar João de Santa Anna. Key highlights include books from Shelf 49, containing volumes prohibited by the Inquisition and the Portuguese Censor’s Board, Books of Hours, Bibles, Diderot’s Encyclopedia (the first encyclopedia), a ten-volume Hebrew Bible, the 1493 Nuremberg Chronicle, the “Mute Book” (a book on Alchemy prohibited by the Inquisition), a first edition of “Os Lusíadas,” and two royal charters from King Manuel I. The library maintains the books intact and well-preserved due to the presence of a bat colony that feeds on the paper-eating parasites…

2. National Hunting Park of Mafra: Inaugurated in 1747 with an area of 1200 hectares. The park was primarily used by the King for hunting and was one of the most sought-after locations for the Royal Family’s hunting expeditions, alongside Salvaterra de Magos.

3. Ericeira: A fishing village located approximately thirty minutes by car from Lisbon, highly popular among surfers and seafood lovers. Ericeira village features unique characteristics, such as its low, whitewashed houses with blue accents, the beach where traditional fishing boats can be observed, restaurants serving fresh fish and seafood, and cliffs forming a natural bay. Ericeira, along with its eight kilometers of sandy beach, was classified as a World Surfing Reserve in 2011. Surfing is Ericeira’s largest industry, fostering the opening of restaurants, the organization of festivals (Portuguese Surf Films Festival), surf houses, board shops, surf schools, and surf product stores. According to legend, the name Ericeira originates from Oyriceia, meaning “land of sea urchins,” due to the abundant presence of sea urchins. The village of Ericeira was founded in the 13th century, receiving its charter in 1229. Ericeira experienced significant development in the 17th century, during which time the Count’s Palace, the Town Hall, and many of the fishermen’s houses were built.

Ericeira witnessed two important events: the flight of the Royal Family to Brazil in 1807 (the Royal Family embarked in Lisbon on November 29, 1807, arriving in Brazil in January 1808) and the exile of the last King of Portugal, King Manuel II, on October 5, 1910.
Key points of interest include:

• Chapel of São Sebastião: Built in the 16th century in the Mannerist style, it served as the headquarters of the Confraternity of Single Young Men in Ericeira. Highlights include the Main Chapel from 1678 and the azulejo tiles;
• Church of São Pedro: Built in the 15th century, it became the Parish Church in 1530. Notable features include the Renaissance statue of Saint Peter, the stonework in the Manueline style, the Rococo High Altarpiece, and four paintings depicting episodes of Saint Peter’s miraculous catch;
• Ericeira Archive-Museum: Inaugurated on June 1, 1937, with the aim of promoting and preserving Ericeira’s history. The collection includes 16th-century canvases depicting the Passion of Christ, paintings of Our Lady in Majesty, the Visitation, and Our Lady of Mercy;
• Azulejo Records in the Historic Center: These are very old azulejo tiles representing the protection of populations against sea-related disasters.
  4. Cerco Garden: Built in the Baroque style during the reign of King John V. The eight-hectare garden’s main features include waterfalls, the Friars’ Orchard, the Aromatic Garden with approximately 40 aromatic plants, a collection of sculptures, ancient trees, and garden benches;

5. Iberian Wolf Recovery Center: Located in the parish of Gradil, covering an area of 17 hectares, the Iberian Wolf Recovery Center was inaugurated in 1987 with the objective of preventing the extinction of this species. This center is considered a sanctuary for the Iberian Wolf, having housed 59 wolves since 1987;

6. Vale da Senhora do Arquiteto: An isolated and little-known village in the municipality of Mafra, worth visiting for its scenic beauty. The village’s history is deeply linked to the construction of the Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Arquiteto in the 17th century;

7. Milreu Fort: Built in the Mannerist style during the Restoration War in the 17th century to protect the maritime access to Ericeira. It was fully operational until its partial destruction during the 1755 Earthquake. The fort was abandoned in the 19th and 20th centuries and was rebuilt in the 1980s;

8. Ribeira d’Ilhas Beach: The most famous beach in Ericeira, known for regularly hosting national, European, and world surfing championships. Ribeira d’Ilhas offers excellent waves for surfing, but caution is advised due to currents that can be dangerous for less experienced swimmers;

9. Foz do Lizandro Beach: A beach with an extensive sandy area and small lagoons, popular for families and surfers.

10. São Lourenço Fort: Also known as Santa Susana Fort, it is located south of São Lourenço Beach. São Lourenço Fort was built during the Restoration War and later became part of the Second Defensive Line of Torres Vedras. The fort served two main functions: a military barracks and a customs post.

Other Attractions to Visit in Mafra

Church of Santa Marta and Nossa Senhora das Necessidades was built in 1760 on a site where an ancient hermitage dating back to 1484 previously existed. The chapel of Santa Marta was the seat of the confraternity of single girls and a former site for festivities in honor of Our Lady of Necessities

• Pedra Branca Beach: Part of the World Surfing Reserve, located opposite the Ericeira Campsite;
• São Lourenço Beach: A beach with a rocky bottom, not recommended for beginner surfers;
• São Julião Beach: With a large sandy area, it is frequented by many families during the summer. It is notable for the formation of lagoons on the sand and its cliffs. Caution is advised near the cliffs due to the possibility of falling rocks;
• Coxos Beach: Known for its tubular waves, sought after by experienced surfers worldwide. Caution is advised when heading out to sea due to the numerous rocks;
• Cave Beach: Also known as Sete Bafos, it is frequented by more experienced surfers due to the difficulty of its waves;
• Norte Beach: Also known as Algodio Beach or Ericeira Beach. It is widely used by families and is supervised during the bathing season;
• Sul Beach: A small beach, highly sought after by those who appreciate tranquility and some seclusion;
• Foz do Lizandro Beach: A beach with an extensive sandy area and small lagoons, very popular for families and surfers.

Gastronomy of Mafra

Mafra is a coastal locality with a fishing tradition in the village of Ericeira, and agricultural traditions in its inland villages and towns. The most sought-after gastronomic products include:

• Mafra Bread: Mafra bread is one of the municipality’s specialties.
• Ericeira Seafood: With its proximity to the sea, the Ericeira area offers numerous fresh seafood restaurants.
• Ray

• Sea Urchins
• Grilled Sardines
• Caneja d’Infundice
• Hunter-Style Rabbit
• Portuguese Stew
• Cow’s Trotters with Chickpeas
• Goose Barnacles
• Pézinhos de Coentrada
• Fresh Cheese

Curiosities about Mafra

• The work “Memorial do Convento” by José Saramago, Nobel Prize in Literature, was written with the Mafra Convent as its setting;
• Ericeira is the only World Surfing Reserve in Europe;
• Bats play an essential role in preserving the books and documents in the Library of Mafra Palace;
• The first stone of the Mafra Convent was blessed with twelve gold coins;
• The Mafra Convent was built after a promise by King John V – if his wife bore him an heir;
• In the 19th century, princes used roller skates in the Library of the National Palace of Mafra;
• The first machine that allowed man to fly was built in Mafra;
• The Portuguese Royal Family is said to have fled to Brazil through a tunnel connecting the monastery to Ericeira.

Quick Facts about Mafra

• The Municipality of Mafra has approximately 77,000 inhabitants;
• The area of Mafra is 291.66 km²;
• The Municipality of Mafra is administratively organized into eleven parishes: Azureira and Sobral da Abelheira, Carvoeira, Encarnação, Enxara do Bispo, Gradil and Vila Franca do Rosário, Ericeira, Igreja Nova and Cheleiros, Mafra, Malveira and São Miguel de Alcainça, Milharado, Santo Isidoro and Venda do Pinheiro, and Santo Estêvão das Galés

Main Festivals and Events in the Municipality of Mafra

• Bread Festival;
• Seafood Festival in Ribamar.

Administrative Organization of Mafra

The municipality of Mafra has approximately 77,000 inhabitants and an area of 291.66 km². It borders Torres Vedras to the north, Sobral de Monte Agraço to the northeast, Arruda dos Vinhos to the east, Loures to the southeast, Sintra to the south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The municipality of Mafra is administratively organized into eleven parishes:

• Carvoeira
• Encarnação
• Ericeira
• Mafra
• Milharado
• Santo Isidoro
• Union of Parishes of Azueira and Sobral da Abelheira
• Union of Parishes of Enxara do Bispo, Gradil and Vila Franca do Rosário
• Union of Parishes of Igreja Nova and Cheleiros
• Union of Parishes of Malveira and São Miguel de Alcainça
• Union of Parishes of Venda do Pinheiro and Santo Estêvão das Galés

Map of the parishes of the municipality of Mafra