MAFRA

'Mafra' (pron. ) is both a municipality and a town within the district of Lisbon on the Portuguese west coast:
The municipality has a total population in 2002 of 53,069. It is mainly rural with some touristic activity centred in the town Mafra and especially in the seaside city of Ericeira, which has become a key destination for national and international surfers. After the completion of the A8 motorway, linking the eastern part of the municipality to the centre of Lisbon, commuter population has increased substantially.
The town (2002 pop. 11080) is 28km northwest from the center of Lisbon. It is mostly known for the sumptuous baroque style Royal Palace, which also makes it a popular tourist destination in the Lisbon area. Built in the baroque style and reminiscent of the Spanish palace-convent El Escorial, the Mafra National Palace has also inspired Portuguese Nobel Prize laureate José Saramago to write his novel ''Baltasar and Blimunda'' (Memorial do Convento). Other points of interest around the city include the Tapada Nacional de Mafra, an enclosed wildlife and game reserve.

Contents

Parishes

Gallery

External links

Parishes

★ Azueira

★ Carvoeira

★ Cheleiros

★ Encarnação

★ Enxara do Bispo

★ Ericeira

★ Gradil

★ Igreja Nova

★ Mafra

★ Malveira

★ Milharado

★ Santo Estêvão das Galés

★ Santo Isidoro

★ São Miguel de Alcainça

★ Sobral da Abelheira

★ Venda do Pinheiro

★ Vila Franca do Rosário

Gallery

External links

★ Municipality official website

★ Photos from Mafra