Flamboyant, Magical Pena Palace in Sintra
Flamboyant, magical Palácio Nacional da Pena is located on a hilltop in Sintra, just 15 miles (24 kilometers) northwest of Lisbon. The palace and park were named a National Monument in 1910. The site is considered one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal and is part of Sintra’s cultural landscape classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1995.
The site had first housed a chapel and later a monastery. When an enormous earthquake hit Lisbon and surrounding areas in 1755, the monastery was left in ruins, with only the chapel and cloister still fully intact. The monks continued on though until religious orders were abolished in Portugal.
The palace, as it is today, all started when Queen Maria II of Portugal married Prince Fernando of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. A cultured, highly educated, and wealthy man, Fernando was a cousin to both Bavaria’s “Mad” King Ludwig and Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert. After marrying Queen Maria, he was granted the title King Consort Fernando II.
Settled in his new country, Fernando was charmed by Sintra and decided in 1838 to use his own funds to buy the former monastery and surrounding lands, and build a summer retreat for the royal family. Construction started in 1842 and ended in 1854.
The finished palace has two wings and showcases a mix of architectural styles, including Medieval, Gothic, Moorish, Manueline, and Renaissance. It features castle walls, gateways, a drawbridge, towers, terraces, and gargoyles. The palace’s 85-hectare park has trees imported from every continent, flowering trees and shrubs, and a maze of twisting paths and lanes.
Fernando II ensured that the palace had the most modern features, including Portugal’s first hot-water shower and first flush toilets. The palace also had one of the country’s first telephone exchanges.
The 14 remaining monastic cells were given vaulted and highly decorated ceilings, and converted to private space for the royal couple’s growing family. Queen Maria gave birth to 12 children, three of whom were stillborn. She died at the age of 34 after giving birth to the last child, a son who survived her by only a few hours.
After the queen’s death, Fernando remarried. His bride was an American opera singer, Elise Hensler; she was given the title Countess of Edla. After Fernando’s death, the countess sold the palace to King Luis and in 1889, the Portuguese state purchased it.
The next royal family to use the palace was that of King Carlos I (King Luis’s son) and Queen Amélie. King Carlos and his oldest son were assassinated in 1908. Queen Amélie and her second son (who would become King Manuel II) witnessed the horrific shootings. The still-grieving queen was in residence at Pena Palace when the Republican Revolution occurred in 1910, overthrowing the monarchy. She then left Portugal to live in exile. The palace is still used for state occasions by Portugal’s president and other government officials.
Eclectic, quirky, and often over the top, Palácio Nacional da Pena is a must-see sight for visitors to Portugal. But remember that it was once home to real families—kids who happened to be princes and princesses, parents who happened to be queens and kings—who lived and loved and faced good times and bad.
The site had first housed a chapel and later a monastery. When an enormous earthquake hit Lisbon and surrounding areas in 1755, the monastery was left in ruins, with only the chapel and cloister still fully intact. The monks continued on though until religious orders were abolished in Portugal.
The palace, as it is today, all started when Queen Maria II of Portugal married Prince Fernando of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. A cultured, highly educated, and wealthy man, Fernando was a cousin to both Bavaria’s “Mad” King Ludwig and Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert. After marrying Queen Maria, he was granted the title King Consort Fernando II.
Settled in his new country, Fernando was charmed by Sintra and decided in 1838 to use his own funds to buy the former monastery and surrounding lands, and build a summer retreat for the royal family. Construction started in 1842 and ended in 1854.
The finished palace has two wings and showcases a mix of architectural styles, including Medieval, Gothic, Moorish, Manueline, and Renaissance. It features castle walls, gateways, a drawbridge, towers, terraces, and gargoyles. The palace’s 85-hectare park has trees imported from every continent, flowering trees and shrubs, and a maze of twisting paths and lanes.
Fernando II ensured that the palace had the most modern features, including Portugal’s first hot-water shower and first flush toilets. The palace also had one of the country’s first telephone exchanges.
The 14 remaining monastic cells were given vaulted and highly decorated ceilings, and converted to private space for the royal couple’s growing family. Queen Maria gave birth to 12 children, three of whom were stillborn. She died at the age of 34 after giving birth to the last child, a son who survived her by only a few hours.
After the queen’s death, Fernando remarried. His bride was an American opera singer, Elise Hensler; she was given the title Countess of Edla. After Fernando’s death, the countess sold the palace to King Luis and in 1889, the Portuguese state purchased it.
The next royal family to use the palace was that of King Carlos I (King Luis’s son) and Queen Amélie. King Carlos and his oldest son were assassinated in 1908. Queen Amélie and her second son (who would become King Manuel II) witnessed the horrific shootings. The still-grieving queen was in residence at Pena Palace when the Republican Revolution occurred in 1910, overthrowing the monarchy. She then left Portugal to live in exile. The palace is still used for state occasions by Portugal’s president and other government officials.
Eclectic, quirky, and often over the top, Palácio Nacional da Pena is a must-see sight for visitors to Portugal. But remember that it was once home to real families—kids who happened to be princes and princesses, parents who happened to be queens and kings—who lived and loved and faced good times and bad.