Mafra

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Mafra
Flag of Mafra
Municipal flag
Coat of arms of Mafra
Municipal coat of arms
Location of Mafra
Location  
 - Country Flag of Portugal 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 38º56'12.48"N 9º19'39"W
Municipal holiday Ascension Day
date varies
Website: http://www.cm-mafra.pt/

Coordinates: 38°56′12.48″N 9°19′39″W / 38.9368, -9.3275

Mafra (pron. IPA: ['mafɾɐ]) is both a municipality and a town within the district of Lisbon on the Portuguese west coast,in Greater Lisbon (Grande Lisboa) region.

The municipality had a total population in 2002 of 53,069. It is mainly rural with some tourist activity centred in the town Mafra and especially in the seaside town 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. 11,080) is 28 km north-west from the center of Lisbon. It is mostly known for the sumptuous 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 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.

The town of Maffra in Victoria, Australia, was named after Mafra.

[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

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