Pena Palace
Palace in Sintra
The magnificent Palácio da Pena exemplifies 19th-century Romantic revivalism in Portugal, and is a must-see for visitors to Sintra.
Perched atop the Monte da Pena, the palace occupies the site of an old monastery belonging to the Order of St. Jerome. Its creation was inspired by Dom Fernando of Saxe Coburg-Gotha, who married Queen Dona Maria II in 1836 and fell in love with Sintra. He purchased the convent and surrounding land to build a summer palace for the royal family.
The palace’s design incorporates Portuguese architectural and decorative elements in neo-Gothic, neo-Manueline, neo-Islamic, and neo-Renaissance styles. The king consort also created an extensive woodland park in the English style, featuring a diverse collection of exotic trees.
The palace’s interior retains its original royal decoration, including a stunning alabaster altarpiece attributed to Nicolau Chanterenne, one of the architects of Lisbon’s Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. The chapel’s walls are painted with a trompe l’oeil effect and decorated with azulejos.
Visitors can dine at a restaurant located in one of the palace’s wings, which boasts a terrace offering panoramic views of the Serra de Sintra and the coastline.
The Pena Palace appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Sintra!
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Visiting Pena Palace
9.45am-7pm
combined ticket with Parque da Pena adult/child €14/12.50
Nearby Attractions
- Castelo dos Mouros (0.6) km
Castle in Sintra - Cruz Alta Viewpoint (0.9) km
Viewing Point and Religious Building in Sintra - Palácio e Quinta da Regaleira (1.1) km
Palace in Sintra - Sintra National Palace (1.1) km
Palace in Sintra - Park and Palace of Monserrate (2.7) km
Palace and Park in Sintra - Convento dos Capuchos (Sintra) (4.1) km
Convent in Sintra - Cabo da Roca (9.4) km
Lighthouse in Sintra - Palácio de Queluz (12.1) km
Palace in Sintra - Torre de Belém (18.5) km
Tower in Lisbon - Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (18.8) km
Monastery in Lisbon