Mafra

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Mafra [[Image:{{{image_flag}}}|140px|Flag of Mafra]] Municipal flag Municipal coat of arms
Location
- Country	Portugal
- Region	Lisboa
- Subregion	Greater Lisbon
- District or A.R.	Lisbon
Mayor	José Santos
- Party	PSD
Area	291.7 km²
Population
- Total	62,009
- Density	213/km²
No. of parishes	17
Coordinates	38º95'N 9º24'W
Municipal holiday	Ascension Day date varies
Website: http://www.cm-mafra.pt/

Mafra (pron. IPA: ['mafɾɐ]) 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.

[edit] 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

[edit] Gallery

Royal Palace of Mafra

Royal Palace of Mafra

Sunset at Ericeira

[edit] External links

• Municipality official website
• Photos from Mafra