PRIVATE TOUR UNESCO Mafra Palace & Ericeira World Surfing Reserve

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Palacio Nacional de Mafra, Terreiro Dom Joao v, Mafra 2640-492 Portugal

The Royal Building of Mafra is a baroque monument of gigantic proportions, which includes a Palace, a Basilica, a Convent and a Hunting Park. Made all in limestone and marble, it was built in the 18-century by order of King João V (1689-1750) in fulfilment of a vow he made, to be blessed with an heir from his marriage to Maria Ana of Austria.

The building covers an area of almost four hectares (almost six soccer/football playing fields), including 1.200 rooms, more than 4.700 doors and windows, 156 stairways and 29 inner yards and courtyards. Such magnificence was only possible due to the Brazilian gold that poured into the country, allowing the King to carry out his patronage of the arts and the strengthening of royal authority.

Some of the highlights you can see during the visit are two monumental Carillons, also of the 18-century, a unique set of Six Tubular Organs in the Basilica and one Library considered, by many, one of the most beautiful historical ones in the world, with around 36,000 volumes.

Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Tapada Nacional de Mafra, Portão do Codeçal, 2640-602 Mafra, Portugal

On the enchanted forest of the National Hunting Grounds of Mafra you can make a 2h30 train tour, during which you may freely observe a diverse range of species. You'll see wild boars, deer and fallow deer along with other animals living in total freedom.

The activity may also include a performance with several birds of prey and a workshop about the wonderful world of bees (apiculture).

The National Hunting Grounds of Mafra were established in 1747 with the objective of providing surroundings appropriate to the Palace-Convent along with providing a recreational hunting ground for the King and his Court and in addition to supplying firewood and other products to the Convent.


Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: ERICEIRA, N247, 2655-319 Ericeira, Portugal

Visit the beautiful seaside tourism resort and old fishing community of Ericeira, at the same time Europe's Surf Mecca, due to the exceptional coastline conditions for the practice of surf.

It is home for Ericeira's World Surfing Reserve, the first in Europe and the second in the world.

Ericeira was a popular summer retreat for the Royalty and Lisbon's local aristocracy in the 19-century and for many Portuguese families in the 1940s and 1950s.

The beach of Ribeira d'Ilhas, which routinely hosts a round of the ASP World Tour Surf Championship and is widely regarded as one of the best beaches in Europe for this sport, is located 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) to the north of the town.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Aldeia Tipica Jose Franco, Estrada Nacional 116, Mafra 2640-578 Portugal

The kids love this place. It´s like a big Lego playground that shows the customs, the labor activities and other aspects of Portuguese rural life back to the 1950s.

The José Franco Typical Village is located at Sobreiro, between Ericeira and Mafra, and is one of the country’s best-known museum-villages.

Duration: 30 minutes