Pena

Pena Palace (Palácio Nacional da Pena) is a brightly coloured palace crowning a hilltop in the Serra de Sintra mountains, close to the town of Sintra in Portugal. Built in the 19th century, it is a landmark of Portuguese Romanticism and the most important monument within the Cultural Landscape of Sintra.

How did the site come about?

The hill's story begins with a chapel built in the 12th century after reported apparitions of Our Lady. In 1503, King Manuel I ordered the construction of the Royal Monastery of Our Lady of Pena, which was entrusted to the Order of Saint Jerome. The 1755 Lisbon earthquake badly damaged the old buildings, and the monks had left by 1834.

In 1838, King Ferdinand II bought the empty complex. What began as a plan to restore a summer residence grew into the building of a palace, overseen by Baron Wilhelm Ludwig von Eschwege. Around 1843 the king decided to add a new wing with larger rooms, including the Main Hall, and a round tower beside the new kitchens.

What does the palace look like?

The building mixes Gothic, Moorish, Renaissance and Manueline features. Visitors often compare the result to a scene from "One Thousand and One Nights". The vivid colours against the green hillside make the palace visible from afar, when the weather allows, since the Sintra peaks are frequently wrapped in mist.

What is there to see in the park?

The palace is surrounded by Pena Park, created at the same time by Ferdinand II. It covers more than 200 hectares of uneven terrain and holds over 500 tree species from around the world. Walking its paths is a good way to see the palace from several angles.

Heritage status

The palace was classified as a National Monument in 1910. In 1995 the Cultural Landscape of Sintra was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Pena is its single most important site.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Pena Palace? On a hill in the Serra de Sintra, in the municipality of Sintra, Portugal, at roughly 38.79 N, 9.39 W.

Who had it built? King Ferdinand II, who bought the former Hieronymite monastery in 1838 and turned it into a summer residence.

Which architectural styles can I see? Gothic, Moorish, Renaissance and Manueline, combined in one Romantic composition.

Is the park worth visiting too? Yes. It covers over 200 hectares and contains more than 500 tree species, so a visit is not limited to the palace interiors.

Is it a UNESCO site? Pena is part of the Cultural Landscape of Sintra, inscribed by UNESCO in 1995.

What stood here before the palace? A 12th-century chapel, then a Hieronymite monastery from the early 16th century, abandoned in 1834.