Palácio da Pena - Pena Palace, Sintra

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Pena Palace was the first romantic palace built in Europe. Is a very colorfull palace with an amazing sightseing and a big garden witch hides lots os details (bridges, pergolas, fountains, etc)!
The garden connects the Condessa d'Edla Chalet and the Pena Palace.
On 7th July 2007 it was selectd as one of the seven wonders of Portugal. You can't miss it!

My suggestion of day trip:
Pick the train to Sintra in ther middle of the morning. Geting there go have your lunch on Apeadeiro (restaurant near the train station).
After lunch go to the village center and to Piriquita (local business) to buy a Travesseiro and a Queijadinha (and a bottle of water! this treats are really sweet!).
Sit down in the stair of Sintra Palace and enjoy your dessert!
In the village center look for the bus to Chalet condessa d'Edla, nuy your tickets and start visiting the chalet, then go to Pena Palace ant at last to Moorish Castle.
In an afternoon you can see the 3 places becaise they're near each other.
At the end of the day go back to Lisbon an relax a while in your hotel room.
The go to the downtown to dinner and enjoy the sightseeing on Lost In restaurant bar.

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Being almost a catalog of Portuguese art's main aspects, tiles couldn't be absent in Pena's Palace.

One of the facades is totally covered by tiles. Beautiful? Well... it's a question of taste. It's not one of my favorite details.

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Built in the 19th century, this is a "German" castle, with a rather artificial look, but that (and its location) is what makes it so interesting, because its bayerisch structure is decorated with unexpected Portuguese and Arab elements.

In my other tips I show some more details of the Palace, with better pictures.

Entrance: (Park included) 9 € (6€ for the holders of Lisboa Card).

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The foliage around the Palace is just amazing, and you can even hike around the area! Unfortunately, we were not staying overnight in the area but I just wanted to add this tip for those who love hiking beautiful mountains and who have extra time in their hands.

Ask for a map of the Nature Trail to appreciate the beautiful 85 hectares of amazing landscaping in what used to be a barren hill. You will find sequioa, several kinds of pine trees, gingko biloba, several kinds of ferns…chapels, statues, gardens (like the Graden of Queen Dona Amelia) and even little lakes with duckhouses.

Next time we visit Sintra and with ample time, we will do this :)))

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Standing atop the mountain, one of Pena's highlights is the gorgeous views.

The palace has a public coffee shop, where, in a bright day, you may sit and enjoy the wide views, reaching as far as Lisbon and the ocean, surrounded by the palace's magic.

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One of the finest details in Pena's palace is the way they kept everything as in king's time.

Advancing from room to room, we feel like the place keeps being in use, expecting to find the owners in the next room. The small dimensions of some rooms, the vision of the king's artistic weakness, everything is well displayed.

In my last visit pictures were not allowed anymore. It's a pity! In a prior visit there were no restrictions, except using flash in the chapel, and I know what damage could a photo cause to the palace. Maybe, by your visit, things will be back to normal.

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Parque e Palacio da Pena
Beautiful place on the top of the mountain, nice colors and a chaos from the architecture point of view.
Without being an expert, I’ve seen Pena Palace as a mix of all the possible styles, from the Medieval to Romanic and after to the Moorish and Manueline , new-Gothic and probably all the others :)
This is what the specialists identify as eclectic style, in my opinion, to be polite, there is not the best combination…
But it is not a reason to miss it if you’re going to Sintra.
It is one of the MUST SEE, if not for the un-inspired-but-unique architecture (it is probably only my opinion), at least for its history.
What is really annoying is the fact that you’re followed by too many “guards” having on their job description to stop you taking pictures.
I would never understand this… If they want to protect the paintings or the wooden furniture, or whatever, the mention DO NOT USE THE FLASH should be enough.
If there is something else… it is really bad as anyway, I have spent for that visit about 100 Euro (22 euro/person, plus the bus+++), without mentioning the prices for flighttickets and accommodation.
In this price they shall include the right of taking some pictures… at least in some of the rooms…

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This palace, painted with vivid colors, is one of Sintra’s main attractions. It’s located in the top of the hill and it has a dazzling sight over the coast, sea and the hill itself.

There you can visit the palace and its gardens which have lakes and an enormous diversity of plants and trees.

To get there you can take a bus from the village or walk if you find the transportation costs too high – it’s exhausting but the sights while climbing it’s worth it!

For more information visit the site below.

The most strange element in the complex mixture that is this palace, is the door with the Triton.

Willing to represent the world's creation, this door is the theme for the longest talking of the local guides about mythology... the four elements... the king...

An old convent atop Sintra mountain was destroyed by Lisbon's earthquake 1755 only surviving the chapel. It was around it that the palace was built, in a strange but beautiful mix of many styles.

The masterpiece in the chapel is a work in alabaster and marble from the french sculptor Nicolau de Chanterenne.