With many delightful courses, pure coastal breeze from the Atlantic ocean, great fresh gastronomy and fantastic weather conditions, the Mafra is a Golf Bliss for most golfers.
Portugal Golf - Mafra
Mafra History
Geographically to the north of Lisbon is the impressive Pal�cio de Mafra in the small
town of the same name. It was commenced in 1717 in the reign of Dom Jo�o V. The
initial project was less ambitious in size. The King committed himself to his
church to build a new monastery for 13 Franciscan friars as a seal of his faith
and in penance for his well-known sexual extravagances. During its long history
the Palace has been mainly used by the Royal Family as a home when hunting in
its adjoining forest for deer and wild boar. The monastery was abandoned in 1834
after Dom Jo�o V had dissolved all religious orders. The Royal quarters were
last used by Dom Manuel II as an overnight resting-place on his escape to
England in 1910 aboard his yacht moored at the nearby port of Ericeira.
Mafra Description
This unique Baroque Palace when finished was enlarged to include 880 rooms
and 330 cells for its monks. It also includes a small hospital and pharmacy, and
a prize library. Beautifully housed are about 36.000 rare books that include a
first edition of �Os Lus�adas� by the famous Portuguese poet Lu�s de Cam�es.
This enlargement of the palace was made feasible by the vast wealth that
suddenly flooded into the Royal coffers from Brazil. Besides its Basilica full
of marble statues carved by Italian masters of that time, it also has separate
royal suites for the King and his Queen linked by an extremely lengthy corridor
that stretches 232 meters across the front of the Palace. It can only be assumed
that this acted as a timely warning when either party was entertaining privately
and was about to receive a Royal visitor. This large Palace was inaugurated in
1730 with a notable celebration that lasted eight days and included most of the
52.000 workmen who had been involved in its construction. Most of its interior
furnishings were removed to Brazil when the King fled to Brazil in 1807 to avoid
the invading French army. At present the Basilica is undergoing a renovation
program and the first organ of the existing six has been restored. The organ was
built in 1807 and consists of 1578 tubes.
The forest covered estate attached to the town and it now can be visited on
foot, by vehicle or horseback. The estate is kept well stocked with wild game
including boar and there is a museum with a small collection of antique horse
drawn vehicles. Nearby is a Nature Centre for the Preservation of the Iberian
Wolf which is also open to the public.
Mafra Nearby Locations
To the west of Mafra is the small port of Ericeira that retains a village
atmosphere regardless of the invasion it surfers every summer from Lisbon
populace. First recorded as in town in 1229 it was here that Mateus �lvares
falsely declared himself King and locally attempted to act as such before he was
arrested and sentenced to the galleys whilst all his supporters were hanged.
With its small fishing industry Ericeira is well known for its choice of
restaurants offering the fresh catch of the day. There is a small museum in the
town with items recording the flight of their King in 1910 and the history of
the local fishermen and their boats. On the coast and to the south of Ericeira
is the beach village of S�o Juli�o, where at the end of the tarmac road is a
small Monastery originating from the 16th Century. To the west of Mafra, between
the town and the coastline is the village of Sobreiro where visitors can see the
fascinating clay model village and its figures created by Jos�(Z�) Franco. To
the north of Mafra is the town of Torres Vedras overlooked by its restored 13th
Century castle walls. Within the 16th Century Convento da Gra�a is a museum
devoted to the epic story of of the �Linhas de Torres Vedras�.
In October of the year 1809, a defensive line of fortification was commenced on
the order of the commander of the British Forces, Sir Arthur Wellesley. It was
built to protect Lisbon in the south from the invading Napoleonic Army and was
in total over 85 Kms. in length, with 152 fortified positions and over 600
defending guns. The leader of the French army of 65.000 troops General Mass�na,
after testing its effectiveness and realizing its was almost impregnable fell
back and he and his army retreated. Sir Arthur Wellesley was later to be awarded
amongst others the title of "Duke of Wellington�.
Mafra Information 112 - SOS 800 296 296 - Support to Tourists 261 810 100 - Town Hall 261 812 100 - Fire Brigade 261 815 124 - Police 261 812 023 - Tourist Office
Mafra Locations of Interest
Pal�cio e Convento de Mafra
Municipal Museum - (Torres Vedras)
Municipal of Dinasour Bones - (Lourinh�)
Museum of Ethnology of Bemposta & National Archive of Film Images - (Bucelas)
Museum of Santa Casa da Miseric�rdia - (Ericeira)
Castle - (Torres Vedras)
Church - Igreja de S�o Pedro (Ericeira)
Dolman - Cabe�a da Arruda (Torres Vedras)
Town - (Ericeira)
Mafra Events
Festa dos Merendeiros - 4th April
Feira dos Alhos - 3rd Sunday July
Festival International de M�sica de Mafra - October
Mafra Beaches
Praia Azul
Praia da Baleia
Praia da Calada
Praia Centro - Santa Cruz
Praia F�sica - Santa Cruz
Praia da Formosa
Praia da Foz do Lizandro
Praia Mirante - Santa Cruz
Praia do Navio
Praia Pis�o - Santa Cruz
Praia Porto da Calada
Praia do Porto Dinheiro
Praia da Ribeira d'Ilhas
Praia daq Santa Helena
Praia da Santa Rita Norte
Praia da Santa Rita Sul
Praia de S�o Louren�o
Praia de S�o Sebasti�o
Praia de Valmit�o
Praia de Vide
Portugal Golf
112 - SOS
