Ericeira is a fishing village on the coast of Mafra, about 50 kilometres from Lisbon, with whitewashed houses trimmed in blue above a bay of cliffs and beaches. The village lives from fishing, from its restaurants and from surfing, and its shore is a World Surfing Reserve.
From Ericeira, King Manuel II left Portugal for exile on 5 October 1910, the day the Republic was proclaimed.
What to see in Ericeira
- Old village: the narrow streets above the fishermen's beach, with tiled house fronts and small squares.
- Church of São Pedro: the parish church of the village, with a Rococo main altarpiece.
- Chapel of São Sebastião: a Mannerist chapel of the 16th century, with tiles and a main chapel of 1678.
- Ericeira Archive-Museum: the local museum, open since 1937, with paintings of the 16th century.
- Fishermen's beach: the beach below the village, where boats are still hauled up.
- Seafood: the restaurants of the village, known for fish, shellfish and goose barnacles.
History of Ericeira
- Middle Ages: the village grows as a fishing port and small harbour on this coast.
- 17th century: the village is enlarged, and forts are built to defend the landing places.
- 5 October 1910: King Manuel II sails from Ericeira into exile.
- 2011: the coast of Ericeira is classified as a World Surfing Reserve.
Visiting Ericeira
- Getting there: Ericeira is about 50 kilometres from Lisbon by the A21 and A8 motorways, and buses run from Lisbon and from Mafra.
- Beaches: the village beaches are watched in summer, and the reef breaks of the surf coast lie north and south of it.
Places to visit in Mafra
Mafra, Portugal
Royal Building of Mafra – Palace, Basilica, Convent & Hunting Park
Royal Building of Mafra – Palace, Basilica, Convent & Hunting Park
Tapada de Mafra
Tapada de Mafra
Ericeira Surf Coast
Ericeira Surf Coast
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Ericeira
Iberian Wolf Recovery Centre
Iberian Wolf Recovery Centre
History of Mafra
History of Mafra
Visiting Mafra
