Palacio da Pena Sintra (Pena Palace) – Video, Photos, Info

The Palacio da Pena Sintra is definitively the most unforgettable piece of Architecture in Portugal. Standing on top of a hill, its mix of styles and colors are mesmerizing. Let me take you on a visit to the Sintra Pena Palace in video and photos...

Information to plan your visit at the end of the article

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Sintra Pena Palace Video

Let's start with a short video showing you the highlights of a visit to the Sintra Pena Palace : the views from the Castle of the Moors, many angles of those colorful towers as well as a visit of the inside... No wonder it is part of the Sintra Unesco World Heritage Site.

Views from the Moorish Castle Sintra

I first discovered the Palacio da Pena Sintra during my visit of the Castle of the Moors nearby. As you walk on the wall, you discover perched high on top of the hill the red tower and yellow walls of the surprising structure. What a contrast with the old fortification of the castle!

Pena Palace history in short: Originally there was just a chapel on top of the hill, then a monastery which was destroyed. What you see today of the romantic structure, was built by King consort Ferdinand I as a summer residence in the mid 19th century. After the revolution of 1910, it became a national monument and a museum.

Colors of Palacio da Pena Sintra Portugal

The most interesting part of a visit to the Sintra Pena Palace is to see it from various angles:

• The main colors are red, yellow, blue and purple.
• You get round, square and conic features
• the mix of architectures: neo-gothic, neo-Manueline, neo-renaissance...

The best part is really to explore all the paths that you can find to discover all its façades. Have a look:

You can understand why it made it on my list of the Top Portugal Attractions , don't you?

Inside Palacio da Pena Sintra

Once inside the wall of the Palacio da Pena Sintra, you can pay extra to visit the inside fo the building: the tour include the cloister, Dining Room the Apartments of King Carlos I and Queen Amelia, the Gallery of Passage, the Stag room, the Kitchen and much more...

Furniture has been placed in all rooms showing how all the rooms were used. And some rooms are covered in tiles from ground to wall to ceiling. Completely tile-crazy!

Details of Sintra Pena Palace

It is easy to get overwhelm by the overall impression of the Palacio da Pena Sintra with the colors and all. But take the time to look closer at the details, especially the tiles. They are quite unique!

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Our Lady of Pena Chapel

Originally only the Chapel of Our Lady of Pena was built on top the Sintra hill. Later a monastery was added but destroyed by lightning and the 1755 Great Lisbon Earthquake. But the chapel remain standing with its impressive work of marble.

Inside again, the more recent pieces are colorful. The Stained glass window was particularly bright!

Pena Palace Sintra - The park

The park surrounding the Sintra Pena Palace is big. You don't have to take the bus up and down you can also explore on foot to admire the forest, ponds, flowers and small waterfalls.

Views from the Sintra Pena Palace

Another advantage of visiting the Palacio da Pena Sintra is the views you get from up there in the hills. In every directions, you get unobstructed views as the Sintra mountains are the only ones around.

Below for example you can see the wall of the castle of the Moors. (you can see many photos of my visit there in the Sintra Castle article)

Don't forget to bring binoculars to make the most of those views!!!!
Check out my guide to find the best travel binoculars for your needs.

This is one of the TOP things to do in Sintra Portugal

Want to see more of PORTUGAL?

Discover more things to do & places to see in my Travel Portugal Destination Guide.

Very unique, isn't it?

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