Looking up from the pool, and almost everywhere from the grounds, you see Serra de Sintra, the Sintra Mountain. On the top of it, a colourful palace is erected. What now is one of the most visited monuments in Sintra and in Portugal, used to be a chapel, constructed in the middle ages, dedicated to Our Lady of Pena.
A BRIEF HISTORY A monastery was built around the chapel and for centuries it was a quiet place of worship. The 1775 earthquake reduced the monastery to ruins - and it stayed that way until King Consort Ferdinand the 2nd bought it and the surrounding lands, including the Moorish Castle, and had it built in a romantic style by Baron von Eschwege.
The construction took 12 years, the palace was decorated by Queen Mary and the Palace became the Royal family's summer residence. After the queen died, King Ferdinand remarried, and after his death, the palace fell out of royal hands. Later King Louis bought it back from his father's widow so that the royal family could continue residing in it. In 1889 Portugal's last queen, Queen Amélia, sold the palace to the State as the royal family was short on money. In 1910 the Pena National Palace was declared a National Monument. The 200 hectares of forest land was turned into Pena Park at the same time with much care and attention. Exotic trees were ordered from all around the world, including Redwoods from America and Camélias from Japan.
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| The clouds covering the palace during the day |
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| This night time picture is taken from our garden with a very normal camera |
THE PALACE features everything a fairytale castle needs: drawbridge, turrets, ramparts, battlements, domes, gargoyles, all in a array of pastel colours.
At night the Palace is lit. As the highest point of Sintra mountain reaches 529 meters, the low clouds often cover the palace which looks like it is in flames as the lights fold from the clouds. The colourful palace is often featured in book covers and films, and is one of the favourite monuments of our guests.
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The views from the Palace are fabulous!
Olga and Enni photographed by Eino Nurmisto |
What makes it so nice to visit, is that it looks like someone still lives there: the beds are made, the tables are set, there are clothes hanging and small items in sight. You see the bathrooms and even go through the kitchen. It is also interesting to see the restoration work: as the palace has not been closed during restoration works, the visitors can admire the men and women diligently working on the walls and furniture.
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| Enni in the Park of Pena, photo by Eino Nurmisto |
THE PARK is fabulous. Monte da Lua, Parques de Sintra organization takes care of the palace and its grounds, and does so well. The park is truly like a fairytale, a magic forest with lakes, white swans, black swans, winding paths, small water falls, bridges, rare species of flowers and trees... Near the queen's fern garden, there is a place where someone I know swears having seen fairies. I have not, but it is true, that if I were a fairy, that is where I would like to live!
HOW TO GET THERE
There are two entrances to the Palace, the main gate and the gates of the park. If walking a bit of uphill is not your thing, you should go in the main gates as there is a small bus (paid) to take you up. But if you can do a bit of walking, going in through the park entrance is certainly worth the walk. Straight to the palace from the park entrance takes about 15 minutes, but most people love to wonder in the park a bit longer.
The way up the mountain can be done in various ways: you can walk, ride a bike, take bus 434, a taxi or an Uber. From the city center by road it is about 3-3,5 kms.
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Olga and Enni walking in the Park of Pena
Photo by Eino Nurmisto |
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| Enni in the Park of Pena, photo by Eino Numisto |
Using the footpaths, from Casa do Valle, it takes approximately 45-60 minutes to the gates of the park (though many take longer as they stop and take pictures and just enjoy the sights on the way). If this is your option, make sure you ask us for instructions to find the best footpaths. We have paper maps with written instructions as well as a Walking APP in digital format available.
The bus (#434) is for those with a strong stomach and great nerves - those who easily get nauseated or don't like to wait should skip this option due to the winding roads and an easily full bus. In the summer, even if there are 3 or 4 buses an hour, you may have to wait a long while for the bus - traffic slows the buses down and they are often too full to fit everyone in.
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