Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes ProCon History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture Money Videos
Mafra
Table of Contents
Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics
Images
Franciscan
Read Next
Funchal, Madeira Island, Portugal.
Portugal Is Home to These 17 Inspiring Buildings
Discover
Thumbnail for flags that look alike quiz Russia, Slovenia, Iceland, Norway
Flags That Look Alike
Super Typhoon Noru over the western tropical Pacific Ocean as observed by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA Aqua satellite July 31 2017
What Is the Difference Between a Typhoon and a Super Typhoon?
Mayer Amschel Rothschild (1744-1855), founder of the house of Rothschild; lithograph by Friedrich Lieder, c. 1830.
Where Do Anti-Semitic Conspiracy Theories About the Rothschild Family Come From?
An ancient egyptian hieroglyphic painted carving showing the falcon headed god Horus seated on a throne and holding a golden fly whisk. Before him are the Pharoah Seti and the goddess Isis. Interior wall of the temple to Osiris at Abydos, Egypt.
11 Egyptian Gods and Goddesses
Diverse elementary school children wearing school uniforms running outside of school. Boys girls
Pro and Con: School Uniforms
Rural Irish landscape, Sligo, Ireland.
Why Is Ireland Two Countries?
Thanksgiving Turkey with all the sides
Why Do We Eat Turkey on Thanksgiving?
Franciscan
Franciscan The National Palace, Mafra, Port.

Mafra

Portugal
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Share
Share to social media
URL
https://www.britannica.com/place/Mafra
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Article History

Mafra, town, west-central Portugal. It lies near the Atlantic Ocean, 18 miles (29 km) northwest of central Lisbon, and constitutes a parish of that city.

Mafra is noted primarily for the National Palace (also containing a church and monastery), built (1717–35) by King John V in thanksgiving for the birth of a son and heir to the throne. The building, which measures 700 feet (213 metres) from east to west and 800 feet (244 metres) from north to south, contains more than 860 rooms and has a magnificent library. The church, which is sumptuously built of marble and richly adorned with statues, low reliefs, and other objects of art, contains sculptures by the 16th-century artist Machado de Castro. In each of the towers is a carillon of 57 bells. Mafra itself is a manufacturing and agricultural trade centre. Limestone, basalt, granite, marble, and alabaster are quarried in the area. Pop. (2001) 11,276; (2011) 17,986.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.