Palácio Nacional da Pena

Perched on a rocky height above Sintra, the Palácio Nacional da Pena is the most colourful of Portugal’s palaces. Built in the nineteenth century in a romantic style that mixes Gothic, Manueline and Moorish elements, it rises from the trees in shades of yellow and red, with towers, domes and terraces that seem to belong to a story.

A romantic palace

The palace was created by King Ferdinand II on the site of a ruined monastery, which he acquired after his marriage to Queen Maria II. Working with the German architect Wilhelm Ludwig von Eschwege from the 1840s, he built a summer residence that became a setting for the court and a monument to the romantic imagination of the age. The surrounding park, planted with trees from around the world, is part of the experience.

What to see

• The terraces and the Triton fountain, with views over Sintra and the coast.
• The royal rooms, furnished as they were in the nineteenth century.
• The park, with its paths, lakes and exotic trees.
• The Chalet of the Countess of Edla, a smaller wooden house in the grounds.

Visiting the palace

The palace is at Estrada da Pena, Sintra, and can be reached by bus, tuk-tuk or on foot from the town. Opening hours and tickets are published by Parques de Sintra, so check the official website before your visit.

Visitor information: parquesdesintra.pt.

Image credit: Palácio Nacional da Pena, Sintra, by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.