Buy House in Mafra

When King João V began construction on the National Palace of Mafra in 1717, he created an enduring legacy. It remained a royal domicile until 1910, when King Dom Manuel II was forced to flee from it, with the establishment of the Portuguese Republic. Today the sumptuous Baroque and Neo-classical structure, more than 430,000 square feet in size, with a basilica modeled after St. Peter’s in Rome, stands as the elegant centerpiece of Mafra.

The town lies just 30 minutes northwest of Lisbon International Airport. A population of about 76,000 spread over 112 square miles translates to the feel of a thriving yet pleasantly-paced small city. Most of the tree-lined streets, including the main boulevard of Avenida da Liberdade, are covered with calçada Portuguesa, the traditional black-and-white Portuguese pavement. Green areas bursting with blossoms year-round are dotted everywhere, and on residential streets, you’ll find private homes of varying sizes as well as apartment buildings.

Mafra is not the place to be if you’re the beachy type. But if you want to escape snow and sleet, yet still don’t want to give up seasons, this city may very well interest you. Summers are warm, dry, and mostly sunny. Winter is the rainy season, and you definitely need a coat. Having said that, average annual temperatures range from 46 F to 80 F, with extremes being 39 F and 91 F. One final note: due to its location on a rise, and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, Mafra is often quite windy.

Several large supermarkets offer everything you need in the way of groceries and other necessities, and there’s a proliferation of clothing and shoe stores, a flower shop, bakeries, and a specialty meat market. The centrally-located Mercado offers fresh, locally-grown produce.

With respect to safety, you may already know that Portugal was ranked the fourth safest country in the world according to the Global Peace Index in 2019.  Healthcare is offered at a public clinic in town near the high school and sports complex, and private health care is easily attainable and affordable at CUF. A CUF Hospital is located about 30 minutes away in Torres Vedras. Finally, the volunteer fire department boasts well-trained Emergency Medical Technicians.

You won’t need a car here. Reliable bus service is available, and a taxi stand can be found in front of the lovely park, Jardim de Cerco, next to the Palace. Formerly the gardens where generations of royals strolled, today the park is home to the annual Bread Festival, music concerts, and other local events.