Category: Military Architecture > Castle
District: Lisboa > Sintra > Sintra > São Pedro de Penaferrim
Pena Palace stands majestically atop one of the hills of the Sintra mountain range, in the area of São Pedro de Penaferrim. Its elevated position allows its colourful silhouette to be seen from various points in the region, and on clear days, its presence is noticeable even in the Lisbon metropolitan area. It integrates remarkably into the surrounding natural landscape, where the dense greenery of the mountain range merges with the rocks that serve as the foundation for this unique construction.
The history of Pena Palace begins with a modest chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Pena, erected in the Middle Ages. In the 16th century, King D. Manuel I ordered the construction of a Hieronymite monastery on the site, which, unfortunately, fell into ruins after the 1755 earthquake. It was in the 19th century that D. Fernando II, known as the Artist-King, fell in love with this setting and acquired the ruins and surrounding lands. His visionary project transformed the old convent into a royal summer residence, one of the most remarkable examples of Romanticism in European architecture. After the establishment of the Republic in 1910, the Palace was converted into a museum, preserving for future generations the legacy of this monarch and the Portuguese Royal Family, and is today recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The architecture of Pena Palace is one of its most striking aspects. It is characterized by an intentional fusion of styles, ranging from Neo-Gothic and Neo-Manueline to Neo-Islamic and Neo-Renaissance, with touches of Indian inspiration. This richness of influences creates a unique aesthetic, where different buildings and towers unite in an organic composition. The facades boast vibrant colours, such as pink and ocher, which have been restored to reflect their original appearance, contributing to its fairy-tale aura. One of the most intriguing details is the Triton's Archway, an enigmatic figure emerging from a shell, conceived by D. Fernando II himself, with deep allegorical symbolism.
Inside, Pena Palace reveals the Royal Family's quarters, preserving the furniture and decoration that reflect the daily life and taste of its former inhabitants. Rooms such as the Noble Hall, the royal bedrooms, and the chapel, with its Renaissance altarpiece attributed to Nicolau Chanterenne, display a richness of detail. Elaborate stucco work, trompe-l'œil wall paintings, and 19th-century tile coverings can be observed. The diverse collections of silverware, textiles, porcelain, and furniture provide an authentic glimpse into 19th-century court life, illustrating the royal appreciation for collecting.
Pena Palace is set within a vast park of over two hundred hectares, which was conceived in conjunction with the palace itself, forming a harmonious whole. D. Fernando II had an extraordinary variety of botanical species from the most diverse parts of the world planted in this space, taking advantage of the mild and humid climate of the mountain range. Winding paths lead to lakes, bridges, grottoes, and wooded nooks. The Cruz Alta (High Cross), the highest point of the Sintra mountain range, offers a breathtaking panorama of the surrounding landscape and the Palace itself, while the statue of the Warrior, visible from afar, seems to guard this magical place.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 38.78746195493, -9.3905244676056
Coordinates DMS: 38°47'14.9"N 09°23'25.9"W
On-duty Pharmacy Sintra
