Pena's Palace, Sintra, Portugal

The first construction on this hilltop dates back to the reign of King John II (15th century) and it was a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Pena. In the 16th century, King Manuel I, paying a promise, ordered the construction of a Monastery. In the 18th century, the Monastery was severely damaged, first by lightning and then by the Great Earthquake of 1755. In 1838 King consort Ferdinand II bought the ruins of the Monastery (along with the surrounding terrains and the Castle of the Moors) and decided to build the romanticist Palace of Pena. This Palace became the Summer residence of the Portuguese Royal Family until 1910 when the Portuguese Republic was established.

Opening hours: 9h45 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Entrance Fee (standard): €14 (includes the park)
How to go, from Lisbon: You can go from Lisbon to Sintra, for a day trip, by train, departing either from Restauradores or Oriente Stations. At the vending machines buy the "Cartão Lisboa Viva" and charge it with €5, which is enough for the round trip. In Sintra, you can either walk up the hill (about 1 hour) or take the bus at the train station.






Local: Sintra, Portugal

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