PALÁCIO DA PENA - PARQUE DA PENA
It is the palace not to be missed in Sintra. Its eccentric and colourful look takes you straight to the land of Cinderella.
Perched on one of the dominant points of the Serra da Sintra, this typical example of Portuguese romantic architecture is a fantastic blend of Gothic, exaggerated Manueline, Renaissance and Moorish: a royal fantasy, a false air of Ludwig II madness. Its extravagant appearance is further accentuated by its canary yellow and scarlet red colours. A real fairy tale castle! Built in the middle of the 19th century by Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg Gotha, husband of Queen Mary II of Bragança (by embedding a former 16th century convent in its walls), this madness served as a royal residence until 1910, the date of the last king of Portugal's departure in exile. The construction of the Pena Palace was done according to the King's instructions, who wanted the palace to reflect one of the scenes he had seen in an opera. It is accessed through a long tunnel with pointed arches; at the end, a Moorish gate leading to an inner courtyard; in this courtyard, we will find the famous newt arch, decorated with neo-Manueline details. Both the inside and the outside are worth a visit. Outside you can admire azulejos and whimsical sculptures, inside you will be amazed by the work of the craftsmen of the time. A succession of rooms filled with divinely sculpted furniture, rooms of Arabic and Indian styles... All around the castle, the park invites you to dream and in rainy weather, you will feel the mystical atmosphere that is part of Sintra's charm.
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Members' reviews on PALÁCIO DA PENA - PARQUE DA PENA
Sur conseil d'un guide de Lisbonne, je n'ai pris le ticket que pour le parc, permettant de voir le château de l'extérieur. Et on le voit tout de même bien, car on peut monter sur les esplanades, faire le tour du chemin de ronde, visiter la chapelle ... L'intérieur n'a apparemment rien d'extraordinaire, selon différentes sources.