Sintra Pena Palace

As you approach the Sintra mountains from Lisboa the Pena Palace makes a dramatically colorful and romantic appearance at the top of an impressive hill that looks almost impossible to reach. The Palácio da Pena, or Pena Palace, is a 19th Century Romanticist palace completed in 1854. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this national monument is a must see for your Portugal itinerary. The spot of Pena Palace was of religious importance beginning in the Middle Ages from which it evolved into a monastery that fell to ruins after the Lisboa earthquake of 1755. It wasn’t until 1838 that it was commissioned for a palace to be built.

As you begin exploring the grounds and interior of the Pena Palace, you will be impressed with the blend of styles represented. You will find Neo-Gothic, Neo-Islamic—often we spotted familiarities and similarities in the rooms and structures to what we enjoyed in Marrakech— and Neo-Renaissance. The interior of the Pena Palace displays rooms that served as the Summer residence of the royal family. My favorite space was the kitchen. Spacious and light filled, surrounded by grand balcony and equipped with stunning copper pots and pans it was truly a Chef’s paradise.

A few tips for your visit:

1. purchase tickets in advance. All entrances are timed.

2. Book an early entrance. This is a very popular attraction and you’ll want to enter in the morning to avoid a long wait

3. You can park at the bottom of the castle. We were there early, it got much more crowded later so if you are driving, again, go early

4. The palace entrance is about a 30 minute walk from the bottom of the grounds. They offer a bus ride up for a nominal fee. You can purchase those tickets in advance as well

5. Enjoy coffee and desserts at cafes on the grounds (I counted 2) and be sure to stop into the gift shop for some sweet souvenirs