When, in 1717, King John V began construction of the Mafra Palace,written by the Chief Architect of the Kingdom João Frederico Ludovice Mafra was barely a few hamlets that huddled around the monument.
Em 1717, quando o Rei D. João V iniciou a construção do Palácio de Mafra, concebido pelo arquiteto-chefe do reino, João Frederico Ludovice, Mafra tinha apenas alguns lugarejos à volta do monumento.