Villa Branca

, Setúbal

Behind a curved white façade in the heart of Setúbal, Villa Branca blends timeless elegance with tropical calm. Built in the 1930s with strong Art Deco influence, the home sits in Bairro Salgado, one of the city’s most historic residential neighbourhoods. This area was once where Setúbal’s industrial families built their homes starting in the early 20th Century. Today, it remains one of the city’s most central and character-rich enclaves.

The property offers 413 m² of interior space across three levels and sits on a 459 m² plot. A full renovation was completed four years ago, and the interiors were fully redecorated within the past year. You enter into a grand entrance hall with original marble floors and a sweeping staircase. To the left are two connected reception rooms: a lounge with a wood-burning stove and a formal dining room that opens directly onto the garden. To the right, a spacious kitchen includes room for a dining table and is fitted with top appliances, including a Gaggenau fridge-freezer, Miele oven and microwave, Miele induction hob, Siemens extractor fan, and two dishwashers.

Upstairs are three large double bedrooms and a fourth room ideal as a dressing room or study. These all share a generous main bathroom, finished in natural stone with twin sinks, a walk-in shower, and bathtub. Original wood floors run throughout this level, and large windows fill each space with natural light.

A second social bathroom with shower is located on the main floor and serves guests or those using the lower ground floor. This lower level includes a guest double bedroom, a listening or TV snug, a games room with billiards, a dedicated laundry area and multiple storage rooms. Natural light still reaches this floor, which adds flexibility without feeling subterranean.

The garden, inspired by Moroccan riads, features banana trees, lemon trees, and a tiled pool surrounded by sun terraces and greenery. At the back of the plot sits a small white-painted guest house with its own en-suite bathroom. Whether used as a studio, office, or guest suite, it feels like a petite Portuguese home of its own. There’s also a summer kitchen and covered outdoor dining area, perfect for long afternoons and slow evenings outside.

The property includes a private garage, an electric car charging point, and solar panels for energy efficiency. 

Villa Branca is located just five minutes from Setúbal’s Mercado do Livramento, widely regarded as one of the best food markets in Portugal. Bonfim Park and two local secondary schools are nearby, while St Peter’s International School is just 15 minutes by car. The ferry to Troia and Comporta departs just down the road, and Arrábida National Park offers hiking, cycling, and access to some of Europe’s most pristine beaches.

Setúbal isn’t trying to be anything it’s not - and that’s part of its charm. A working fishing town with a strong sense of identity, it offers something many coastal destinations have lost: authenticity. The historic centre is a maze of tiled façades, cafés, and everyday rhythm. The Sado Estuary, home to a rare pod of dolphins, brings nature into the city. For those drawn to space, calm, and character, Setúbal is quietly becoming one of Portugal’s most compelling areas to live and is only 35 minutes away from Lisbon.