Mafra
Home to a luxurious monastery and a superb national park
Mafra Monastery - José Manuel
The small town of Mafra lies twenty-five miles north of Lisbon. Originally a peasant town Mafra became known to the rest of Europe due to the huge building work that went into the construction of the Italian baroque monastery built during the reign of King Dom João V in the eighteenth century.
Originally the monastery was to be the home of just thirteen Franciscan friars, however, thirteen years later 50,000 peasants were employed constructing the now vast complex of apartments, banquet halls, chapels and monks cells, even containing its own small hospital and pharmacy.
Huge quantities of coloured marble were brought from Italy, a hundred bells cast in Antwerp and an endless assortment of accessories went into the monastery/palace. The vast wealth required for this building came from Brazil where vast numbers of African slaves and Amerindian "helpers" were digging up gold, diamonds and precious stones to be shipped back to Portugal.
The Library - António Sacchetti
The palace was used by the royal family as a place to stay whilst hunting deer and wild boar in the adjoining forest. The tapada is now open to the public and covers 800 hecatares of land. The tapada is only 30 minutes drive from Lisbon, and yet once you are inside you are surrounded by miles of carefully maintained forest inwhich wild deer and boar roam freely.
The tapada offers an excellent days walking for those who love to ramble through countryside and hunting parties can be easily arranged. A high quality guest house can be found on-site, and in the summer of 2005 a museum dedicated to the history of the tapada and the plants and wildlife within it, shall be opened.
The last time Portuguese royalty stayed at the palace was in 1910 when King Manuel II and his family were being chased out of the country. The royal family stayed overnight in Mafra, before boarding their yacht in Ericeira and fleeing to England.
Hotels in towns and cities close to Mafra
View of Lisbon - José Manuel
Hotels in Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city of Portugal, with many fascinating places to visit, from the castle of St. George, to the magnificent aqaurium at the Park of the Nations. Lisbon also contains a huge range of restaurants, various musuems and parks and a friendly nightlife. Lisbon is 25 km from Mafra....(More)
Hotels in Obidos
Obidos is a beautiful fortified city and a world heritage sight. The city has attracted generations of talented artisans and their work can be seen throughout. There is also an amphitheatre which puts on frequent performances. Obidos is 50 km from Mafra....(More)
Hotels in Queluz
Queluz is about 15 km north-west of Lisbon and is famed for its 18th century palace with beautiful gardens. Queluz is 21 km from Mafra....(More)
Hotels in Sintra
Sintra is one of Portugal´s most beautiful regions, long admired for its almost tropical abundance of luxuriant flora and rich vegetation. The poet Byron referred to it as a "glorious Eden". Sintra is home to an outrageously opulent palace and a beautiful Moorish castle that offers sweeping views of the surrounding countryside. Sintra is 16 km from Mafra....(More)