Environment
Mafra is located in the Lisbon region in the west of Portugal, including Grande Lisboa and the Peninsula de Setubal.
This is a region of significant importance in industry, services and agriculture.
In this region you will find "big-city life" as well as marvelous historical places of interest, nice wine districts,
some of the best beaches in the country, and world famous golf courses.
Some distances of interest
The closest airport is Lisbon Internationale Airport, located 30 km away.
It is 20 km to the mountains and 30 km to the nearest river.
In Portugal the Atlantic Ocean is always "close by" - distances from estern inland border will
maximum be a two hour drive. The closest beach is 10 km away.
Climate : Ocean clima with nice hot humid summers and with a cool breeze from the sea in wintertime Town character : Agricultural town Primary Industry : Agricultur
Population in Mafra town: 11.000 inhabitants. Population in the municipality of Mafra: 53.000 inhabitants.
Mafra is both a town and a municipality, in Grande Lisboa region. This area is mainly rural with some tourist activity centred in the town Mafra and especially in the seaside town of Ericeira - which is a key destination for surfers from all over the world.
Palácio de Mafra
Mafra is mostly known for its impressive Palácio de Mafra, with royal apartments, a monastery, a prize library housing about 36.000 rare books, and a church.
The palace was built during the reign of King John V (1707-1750), in consequence of a vow made by the king in 1711. King John V promised to build a convent if his wife, the Queen Mary Anne of Austria, gave him descendants. The king initiate the construction of the palace at the birth of his first daughter, the princess Barbara of Braganza.
The imposing façade of the palace (built of local limestone) is 220 m! The church, built in white marble, is located in the centre of the main façade, symmetrically flanked on both sides by the royal palace.
The rectangle behind the church and the palace houses the monastery of the Franciscan monks of Arrábida Order with cells for about 300 friars in long corridors on several floors.
The spacious royal apartments are situated on the second floor. The apartments of the king are situated at the end of the palace while the apartment of the queen is 200 m away at the other end. Such was this distance that, when the king left his apartment towards the apartment of the queen, this was announced to the queen by the sound of a trumpet.
Wine from the region of Lisbon
Portugal produces some of the world's finest, oldest, unique and highest value-added wines.
The country has a large variety of native breeds - about 285 - producing a very wide
variety of different wines with distinctive personality.
