1- MAFRA
(just a 15-minute drive, to visit Mafra National Palace).
Mafra is the main city near Ericeira and is mostly know for it’s sumptuous National Palace. This 18th-century palace-monastery is a monumental construction and was a secondary residence for the Portuguese royal family, as it was located near royal hunting preserves.
The Mafra National Palace is a monumental baroque and italianized neoclassical palace monastery and is considered as one of the seven wonders of Portugal. Construction of the palace began in 1717 and was completely concluded in 1910. Take a look to Cerco Garden. Other points of interest nearby include the stunning Tapada Nacional de Mafra, an enclosed wildlife and game reserve, and Aldeia Museu José Franco, a rural village in miniature.
2 - JARDIM DO CERCO
Visit Mafra, with its palace and park, and don’t forget to see the Jardim do Cerco, a sublime and original Baroque garden that combines nature with agriculture and gardening. f you choose to get to know the Lisbon region better while visiting the city, Mafra is a calm spot you shouldn’t miss. Besides the impressive Baroque palace and the natural wonders of the park, the Tapada de Mafra, you can also wander and relax at the Jardim do Cerco, a Baroque garden that combines nature, agriculture and the sophistication of gardening in a very pleasant and appealing place. The various ponds and small flowerbeds invite you to stroll, while the ancient but still working waterwheel seems to beg for a photo. You can also visit the Horta dos Frades, a garden where you can learn about and identify plants used to make medicinal products back in King João V’s time. This is a great place to visit with kids – the playground is big, safe and very complete.
3 - TAPADA NACIONAL DE MAFRA – NATURE RESERVE IN MAFRA
Natural heritage with unique characteristics and home to deer, fallow deer, wild boar, foxes, birds of prey alongside the many other species. King João V, “the Magnanimous” (1689-1750), commissioned the construction of the Palace-Convent in the town of Mafra to meet a promise he made prior to the Queen making him heir to the throne. This grandiose monument, built at a time of great royal prosperity resulting from the exploration of gold and diamonds in Brazil, represents a high-water mark in the Portuguese Baroque. The National Hunting Grounds of Mafra were established in 1747 with the objective of providing surroundings appropriate to the Monument 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. Covering an area of 1,187 hectares, the Royal Hunting Grounds of Mafra were entirely surrounded by a worked limestone wall across a length of 16 Km.
4 - ALDEIA MUSEU José franco
On the road that links Mafra to Ericeira, in Sobreiro, José Franco reconstituted, in miniature, a saloia village. Recovering the customs and customs of the region, we can observe miniatures of rural scenes with animated dolls. Here you can also relive the atmosphere of an old classroom, the shop of a barber-dentist and the Ti Helena grocery store.
5 - ARRABIDA NATURAL PARK
Located next to the sea, between Setúbal and the fishing town of Sesimbra, Arrábida Natural Park has incomparable natural beauty, where the blue of the sea alternates with the white tones of the chalk cliffs and the depths of the green vegetation that covers the mountain range. If you are a lover of pristine beaches and stunning nature, then this region is a must-see!
6 - SINTRA
Sintra is a picturesque Portuguese town that is set amidst the pine covered hills of the Serra de Sintra, just to the west of Lisbon. The slightly cooler climate attracted the nobility and elite of Portugal, who constructed exquisite palaces, extravagant residences and decorative gardens. The variety of fascinating monuments and historic buildings makes Sintra a highly regarded tourist destination and is a popular day trip from Lisbon or Ericeira.
7 - SINTRA - CASCAIS NATURAL PARK
The Sintra-Cascais Natural Park is one of the 13 Natural Parks of Portugal. While only established in 1994 as a Natural Park by the Portuguese Government, it has been protected since 1981. Its area is approximately 145 km². It includes the Serra de Sintra Mountain Range but extends all the way to the coast and Cabo da Roca, continental Europe’s westernmost point. The natural park boasts a wide diversity of impressive sights and is definitely worth a visit.
8 - CASCAIS
Cascais is a coastal town with plenty of grandeur, located just west of Lisbon, along the Estoril coast. It is a cosmopolitan suburb of the Portuguese capital and one of the richest municipalities in Portugal. The former fishing village gained fame as a resort for Portugal’s royal family in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Nowadays, it is a popular vacation spot for both Portuguese and foreign tourists with plenty of historical charm wrenched in its romantic alleyways.
9 - ÓBIDOS
When 13th-century Portuguese Queen Isabel passed through Obidos and marvelled at its beauty, her husband King Denis I simply gave it to her. For centuries after, the kings of Portugal followed suit, presenting the picturesque little town to their queens as a wedding gift. With its white buildings shining as brightly now as then, the walled city of Obidos is very popular with tourists, its hillside location offering amazing views of the Estremadura area. The medieval castle is a main attraction and definitely worth the drive from Ericeira.
10 - LISBOA
Lisbon is Europe’s second-oldest capital (after Athens), once home to the world’s greatest explorers like Vasco da Gama, Magellan and Prince Henry the Navigator, becoming the first true world city, the capital of an empire spreading over all continents, from South America (Brazil) to Asia (Macao, China; Goa, India). The former launch pad for many of the world’s greatest voyages is now where modern travellers discover.
11 - COVA DA BALEIA ADVENTURE PARK
PASSION, CHALLENGE, ADVENTURE and EMOTION are just some of the feelings. Cova da Baleia currently has 55.000m2 dedicated to Leisure, Adventure and Entertainment Outdoor, always with excellent safety conditions and comfort for all guests. They develop programs for schools, companies, Families, Scouts, Birthday Parties, Celebrations and Special Camps for participants from 6 years. They have: Pub, Terrace, Picnic Area, Barbecue grill, Pool, 5 paintball fields, 3 circuit in trees, 1 canopy junior circuit, Mega slide (200m): multiactivity area, Green spaces, WC / Bathing rooms. Cova Adventure Park brings has maximum safety and comfort.
