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Panorama made my merging 5 photos

The Pena Palace (Portuguese: Palácio da Pena) is a Romanticist castle in São Pedro de Penaferrim, in the municipality of Sintra, on the Portuguese Riviera. The castle stands on the top of a hill in the Sintra Mountains above the town of Sintra, and on a clear day it can be easily seen from Lisbon and much of its metropolitan area. It is a national monument and constitutes one of the major expressions of 19th-century Romanticism in the world. The palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. It is also used for state occasions by the President of the Portuguese Republic and other government officials.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pena_Palace

If you have enough money to build yourself a castle - why not make it outstanding?

The Pena Palace in Sintra is without a doubt one of the most colorful examples. I mean hey, grey gets a bit depressing after a while, so why not color it?

The cool thing is, that most tourists only visit the castle, but don't climb up to the viewpoint.

Definitely make sure you take this short hike, it's worth it!

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The Pena Palace was originally painted with the intense colours you can see - red, yellow, blue and green. In time though, the paint had become pale and no longer mirrored its original glow. In 1996, the Palace was restored and included a repainting of the walls. As some sources would say, the more conservative locals from Sintra were, the more sceptical they would also be about the “new” image of the castle.

How do you like the castle’s intense colours?

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More about this image here

😊Good morning 😘😘

❤️❤️ “ Behind every status there is a secret message for someone .” 🍂🌹🍂🌲🌸 😊

😊😘 have a nice day 😊😊

#naturashot#devine_sea#wood#nature#naturephoto#naturegram#naturelovers#outdoors#florest#walkinginnature#tree#beautiful#lifeofadventure#awesomeglobe#portugal#florest#iloveportugal#sintramountains

#naturashot#devine_florest#wood#nature#naturephoto#naturegram#naturelovers#mountains#outdoors#florest#walkinginnature#tree#beautiful#lifeofadventure#awesomeglobe#sintramountains#flowers#sintra#portugal#florest#iloveportugal

#naturashot#devine_florest#wood#nature#naturephoto#naturegram#naturelovers#mountains#outdoors#florest#walkinginnature#tree#beautiful#lifeofadventure#awesomeglobe#sintramountains#flowers#portugal#iloveportugal

Pena National Palace

#naturashot#devine_florest#wood#nature#naturephoto#naturegram#naturelovers#mountains#outdoors#florest#walkinginnature#tree#beautiful#lifeofadventure#awesomeglobe#sintramountains#flowers#portugal#iloveportugal

This Romanticist conglomerate of architectural styles is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The structure has been built and rebuilt in this place on the Sintra Mountains since the Middle Ages when an apparition of The Virgin Mary was reported. The Pena Palace is visible from Lisbon and is one of Portugal's best known buildings.

This image is quite experimental for my standards. In the vast majority of my pictures, there are lots of colors, it is good weather and the sea is the main element. This image is much different. It shows a forest where it is drizzling with mist floating through the trees and there are no colors. No idea if it works or not. ;-)

The picture has been taken near the Sanctuary of Peninha in the Sintra Mountains in Portugal. Getting more rainfall than the surrounding areas, the mountains feature rich fauna and unique vegetation. Many trees have unusual shapes and the mist created an eerie atmosphere. A bicyclist silently came out of nowhere and laughed when he noticed that he scared me, saying that being scary is the nature of this place.

#naturashot#devine_florest#wood#nature#naturephoto#naturegram#naturelovers#mountains#outdoors#florest#walkinginnature#tree#beautiful#lifeofadventure#awesomeglobe#sintramountains#flowers#sintra#portugal#florest#iloveportugal

#naturashot#devine_florest#wood#nature#naturephoto#naturegram#naturelovers#mountains#outdoors#florest#walkinginnature#tree#beautiful#lifeofadventure#awesomeglobe#sintramountains#flowers#sintra#portugal#florest#iloveportugal

#naturashot#devine_florest#wood#nature#naturephoto#naturegram#naturelovers#mountains#outdoors#florest#walkinginnature#tree#beautiful#lifeofadventure#awesomeglobe#sintramountains#flowers#sintra#portugal#florest#iloveportugal

#naturashot#devine_florest#wood#nature#naturephoto#naturegram#naturelovers#mountains#outdoors#florest#walkinginnature#tree#beautiful#lifeofadventure#awesomeglobe#sintramountains#flowers#portugal#iloveportugal

#naturashot#devine_florest#wood#nature#naturephoto#naturegram#naturelovers#mountains#outdoors#florest#walkinginnature#tree#beautiful#lifeofadventure#awesomeglobe#sintramountains#flowers#portugal#iloveportugal

#naturashot#devine_florest#wood#nature#naturephoto#naturegram#naturelovers#mountains#outdoors#florest#walkinginnature#tree#beautiful#lifeofadventure#awesomeglobe#flowers#alentejo#portugal#florest#iloveportugal#sintramountains

The National Palace of Pena in Lisbon with wide balconies and walkways provides overview of the rolling hills right down to raw sea. The riotous colour scheme and conglomeration of architectural styles combine to create a fine example of Romanticism.

#naturashot#devine_florest#wood#nature#naturephoto#naturegram#naturelovers#mountains#outdoors#florest#walkinginnature#tree#beautiful#lifeofadventure#awesomeglobe#flowers#alentejo#portugal#florest#iloveportugal#sintramountains

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sintra

Sintra is a city and municipality in the Greater Lisbon region of Portugal, located on the Portuguese Riviera. The population of the municipality in 2011 was 377,835, in an area of 319.23 square kilometres (123.26 sq mi). Sintra is a major tourist destination in Portugal, famed for its picturesqueness and for its numerous historic palaces and castles. Sintra is also a major luxury dining and tourism destination within the Portuguese Riviera, as well as one of the wealthiest municipalities in the country, and hosts numerous prominent events like Bilderberg Meetings.

The historic center of the Vila de Sintra is famous for its 19th-century Romanticist architecture, historic estates & villas, gardens, and numerous royal palaces & castles, which resulted in the classification of the town and its historic passage as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sintra is similarly known for its numerous gardens and nature parks, including the Sintra-Cascais Nature Park and the Sintra Mountains. Sintra's most iconic landmarks include the mediaeval Castle of the Moors, the romanticist Pena National Palace and the Portuguese Renaissance Sintra National Palace.

Sintra is consistently ranked as one of the wealthiest and most expensive municipalities in both Portugal and the Iberian Peninsula as a whole. Sintra is one of Portugal's most expensive and sought after real estate markets, famed for its numerous historic villas and luxury estates, and is home to one of the largest foreign expat communities along the Portuguese Riviera. Sintra is similarly known for its high standards of living, consistently ranking as one of the best places to live in Portugal.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pena_Palace

The Pena Palace (Portuguese: Palácio da Pena) is a Romanticist castle in São Pedro de Penaferrim, in the municipality of Sintra, on the Portuguese Riviera. The castle stands on the top of a hill in the Sintra Mountains above the town of Sintra, and on a clear day it can be easily seen from Lisbon and much of its metropolitan area. It is a national monument and constitutes one of the major expressions of 19th-century Romanticism in the world. The palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. It is also used for state occasions by the President of the Portuguese Republic and other government officials.

☀️ good morning 😃 😘☀️

😊” TAKE YOUR TIME to fly high. “😊

😜 have a nice day 😜

#Natureshot#devine_florest#wood#nature#naturephoto#naturegram#naturelovers#mountains#outdoors#florest#walkinginnature#tree#beautiful#lifeofadventure#awesomeglobe#beautifulplace#portugaldenorteasul#flowers#myhome#iloveportugal#foggy#fog#sintramountains#iloveportugal#iloveportugal

#naturashot#devine_florest#wood#nature#naturephoto#naturegram#naturelovers#mountains#outdoors#florest#walkinginnature#tree#beautiful#lifeofadventure#awesomeglobe#sintramountains#flowers#sintra#portugal#florest#iloveportugal

☀️ good afternoon 😃 😘☀️

😊 “Sometimes I look up the sky, smile and say, “ I know that was you. Thank you. “😊

😜 have a nice day 😜

#Natureshot#devine_florest#wood#nature#naturephoto#naturegram#naturelovers#mountains#outdoors#florest#walkinginnature#tree#beautiful#lifeofadventure#awesomeglobe#beautifulplace#portugaldenorteasul#flowers#myhome#iloveportugal#foggy#fog#sintramountains#iloveportugal#iloveportugal

#naturashot#devine_florest#wood#nature#naturephoto#naturegram#naturelovers#mountains#outdoors#florest#walkinginnature#tree#beautiful#lifeofadventure#awesomeglobe#flowers#alentejo#portugal#florest#iloveportugal#sintramountains

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sintra

Sintra is a city and municipality in the Greater Lisbon region of Portugal, located on the Portuguese Riviera. The population of the municipality in 2011 was 377,835, in an area of 319.23 square kilometres (123.26 sq mi). Sintra is a major tourist destination in Portugal, famed for its picturesqueness and for its numerous historic palaces and castles. Sintra is also a major luxury dining and tourism destination within the Portuguese Riviera, as well as one of the wealthiest municipalities in the country, and hosts numerous prominent events like Bilderberg Meetings.

The historic center of the Vila de Sintra is famous for its 19th-century Romanticist architecture, historic estates & villas, gardens, and numerous royal palaces & castles, which resulted in the classification of the town and its historic passage as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sintra is similarly known for its numerous gardens and nature parks, including the Sintra-Cascais Nature Park and the Sintra Mountains. Sintra's most iconic landmarks include the mediaeval Castle of the Moors, the romanticist Pena National Palace and the Portuguese Renaissance Sintra National Palace.

Sintra is consistently ranked as one of the wealthiest and most expensive municipalities in both Portugal and the Iberian Peninsula as a whole. Sintra is one of Portugal's most expensive and sought after real estate markets, famed for its numerous historic villas and luxury estates, and is home to one of the largest foreign expat communities along the Portuguese Riviera. Sintra is similarly known for its high standards of living, consistently ranking as one of the best places to live in Portugal.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pena_Palace

The Pena Palace (Portuguese: Palácio da Pena) is a Romanticist castle in São Pedro de Penaferrim, in the municipality of Sintra, on the Portuguese Riviera. The castle stands on the top of a hill in the Sintra Mountains above the town of Sintra, and on a clear day it can be easily seen from Lisbon and much of its metropolitan area. It is a national monument and constitutes one of the major expressions of 19th-century Romanticism in the world. The palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. It is also used for state occasions by the President of the Portuguese Republic and other government officials.

#naturashot#devine_florest#wood#nature#naturephoto#naturegram#naturelovers#mountains#outdoors#florest#walkinginnature#tree#beautiful#lifeofadventure#awesomeglobe#sintramountains#flowers#sintra#portugal#florest#iloveportugal

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sintra

Sintra is a city and municipality in the Greater Lisbon region of Portugal, located on the Portuguese Riviera. The population of the municipality in 2011 was 377,835, in an area of 319.23 square kilometres (123.26 sq mi). Sintra is a major tourist destination in Portugal, famed for its picturesqueness and for its numerous historic palaces and castles. Sintra is also a major luxury dining and tourism destination within the Portuguese Riviera, as well as one of the wealthiest municipalities in the country, and hosts numerous prominent events like Bilderberg Meetings.

The historic center of the Vila de Sintra is famous for its 19th-century Romanticist architecture, historic estates & villas, gardens, and numerous royal palaces & castles, which resulted in the classification of the town and its historic passage as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sintra is similarly known for its numerous gardens and nature parks, including the Sintra-Cascais Nature Park and the Sintra Mountains. Sintra's most iconic landmarks include the mediaeval Castle of the Moors, the romanticist Pena National Palace and the Portuguese Renaissance Sintra National Palace.

Sintra is consistently ranked as one of the wealthiest and most expensive municipalities in both Portugal and the Iberian Peninsula as a whole. Sintra is one of Portugal's most expensive and sought after real estate markets, famed for its numerous historic villas and luxury estates, and is home to one of the largest foreign expat communities along the Portuguese Riviera. Sintra is similarly known for its high standards of living, consistently ranking as one of the best places to live in Portugal.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pena_Palace

The Pena Palace (Portuguese: Palácio da Pena) is a Romanticist castle in São Pedro de Penaferrim, in the municipality of Sintra, on the Portuguese Riviera. The castle stands on the top of a hill in the Sintra Mountains above the town of Sintra, and on a clear day it can be easily seen from Lisbon and much of its metropolitan area. It is a national monument and constitutes one of the major expressions of 19th-century Romanticism in the world. The palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. It is also used for state occasions by the President of the Portuguese Republic and other government officials.

Sunset at the Sanctuary of Peninha, located in the Sintra Mountains, Portugal

Two views, one from below, with the sanctuary shrouded in a wispy purple dusk fog, and one from on top of the mountain taken from the other side of the sanctuary.

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Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, Portugal

November 19, 2024

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#PicturesqueViews #SintraMountains #PeninhaSanctuary #SunsetViews #PortugalAdventure #BeautyOfPortugal #TravelSintra #ExplorePortugal #SunsetMagic #Mountainscape #PeninhaSunset

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sintra

Sintra is a city and municipality in the Greater Lisbon region of Portugal, located on the Portuguese Riviera. The population of the municipality in 2011 was 377,835, in an area of 319.23 square kilometres (123.26 sq mi). Sintra is a major tourist destination in Portugal, famed for its picturesqueness and for its numerous historic palaces and castles. Sintra is also a major luxury dining and tourism destination within the Portuguese Riviera, as well as one of the wealthiest municipalities in the country, and hosts numerous prominent events like Bilderberg Meetings.

The historic center of the Vila de Sintra is famous for its 19th-century Romanticist architecture, historic estates & villas, gardens, and numerous royal palaces & castles, which resulted in the classification of the town and its historic passage as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sintra is similarly known for its numerous gardens and nature parks, including the Sintra-Cascais Nature Park and the Sintra Mountains. Sintra's most iconic landmarks include the mediaeval Castle of the Moors, the romanticist Pena National Palace and the Portuguese Renaissance Sintra National Palace.

Sintra is consistently ranked as one of the wealthiest and most expensive municipalities in both Portugal and the Iberian Peninsula as a whole. Sintra is one of Portugal's most expensive and sought after real estate markets, famed for its numerous historic villas and luxury estates, and is home to one of the largest foreign expat communities along the Portuguese Riviera. Sintra is similarly known for its high standards of living, consistently ranking as one of the best places to live in Portugal.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pena_Palace

The Pena Palace (Portuguese: Palácio da Pena) is a Romanticist castle in São Pedro de Penaferrim, in the municipality of Sintra, on the Portuguese Riviera. The castle stands on the top of a hill in the Sintra Mountains above the town of Sintra, and on a clear day it can be easily seen from Lisbon and much of its metropolitan area. It is a national monument and constitutes one of the major expressions of 19th-century Romanticism in the world. The palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. It is also used for state occasions by the President of the Portuguese Republic and other government officials.

Sunset at the Sanctuary of Peninha, located in the Sintra Mountains, Portugal

Two views, one from below, with the sanctuary shrouded in a wispy purple dusk fog, and one from on top of the mountain taken from the other side of the sanctuary.

---

Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, Portugal

November 19, 2024

.

.

.

#PicturesqueViews #SintraMountains #PeninhaSanctuary #SunsetViews #PortugalAdventure #BeautyOfPortugal #TravelSintra #ExplorePortugal #SunsetMagic #Mountainscape #PeninhaSunset

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pena_Palace

Located in the Sintra hills, the Park and Palace of Pena are the fruit of King Ferdinand II’s creative genius and the greatest expression of 19th-century romanticism in Portugal, denoting clear influences from the Manueline and Moorish styles of architecture. The palace was built in such a way as to be visible from any point in the park, which consists of a forest and luxuriant gardens with over five hundred different species of trees originating from the four corners of the earth.

The castle's history started in the Middle Ages when a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Pena was built on the top of the hill above Sintra. According to tradition, construction occurred after an apparition of the Virgin Mary.

In 1493, King John II, accompanied by his wife Queen Leonor, made a pilgrimage to the site to fulfill a vow. His successor, King Manuel I, was also very fond of this sanctuary, and ordered the construction of a monastery on this site which was donated to the Order of Saint Jerome. For centuries Pena was a small, quiet place for meditation, housing a maximum of eighteen monks.

In the 18th century the monastery was severely damaged by lightning. However, it was the Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755, occurring shortly afterwards, that took the heaviest toll on the monastery, reducing it to ruins. Nonetheless, the chapel (and its works of marble and alabaster attributed to Nicolau Chanterene) escaped without significant damage.

For many decades the ruins remained untouched, but they still astonished young prince Ferdinand. In 1838, as King consort Ferdinand II, he decided to acquire the old monastery, all of the surrounding lands, the nearby Castle of the Moors and a few other estates in the area. King Ferdinand then set out to transform the remains of the monastery into a palace that would serve as a summer residence for the Portuguese royal family. The commission for the Romantic style rebuilding was given to Lieutenant-General and mining engineer Baron Wilhelm Ludwig von Eschwege. Eschwege, a German amateur architect, was much traveled and likely had knowledge of several castles along the Rhine river. The construction took place between 1842–1854, although it was almost completed in 1847: King Ferdinand and Queen Maria II intervened decisively on matters of decoration and symbolism. Among others, the King suggested vault arches, Medieval and Islamic elements be included, and he also designed an ornate window for the main façade (inspired by the chapter house window of the Convent of the Order of Christ in Tomar).

After the death of Ferdinand the palace passed into the possession of his second wife Elisa Hensler, Countess of Edla. The latter then sold the palace to King Luís, who wanted to retrieve it for the royal family, and thereafter the palace was frequently used by the family. In 1889 it was purchased by the Portuguese State, and after the Republican Revolution of 1910 it was classified as a national monument and transformed into a museum. The last queen of Portugal, Queen Amélia, spent her last night at the palace before leaving the country in exile.

The palace quickly drew visitors and became one of Portugal's most visited monuments. Over time the colors of the red and yellow façades faded, and for many years the palace was visually identified as being entirely gray. By the end of the 20th century the palace was repainted and the original colors restored.

In 1995, the palace and the rest of the Cultural Landscape of Sintra were classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

[wikipedia]

Located in the Sintra hills, the Park and Palace of Pena are the fruit of King Ferdinand II’s creative genius and the greatest expression of 19th-century romanticism in Portugal, denoting clear influences from the Manueline and Moorish styles of architecture. The palace was built in such a way as to be visible from any point in the park, which consists of a forest and luxuriant gardens with over five hundred different species of trees originating from the four corners of the earth.

The castle's history started in the Middle Ages when a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Pena was built on the top of the hill above Sintra. According to tradition, construction occurred after an apparition of the Virgin Mary.

In 1493, King John II, accompanied by his wife Queen Leonor, made a pilgrimage to the site to fulfill a vow. His successor, King Manuel I, was also very fond of this sanctuary, and ordered the construction of a monastery on this site which was donated to the Order of Saint Jerome. For centuries Pena was a small, quiet place for meditation, housing a maximum of eighteen monks.

In the 18th century the monastery was severely damaged by lightning. However, it was the Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755, occurring shortly afterwards, that took the heaviest toll on the monastery, reducing it to ruins. Nonetheless, the chapel (and its works of marble and alabaster attributed to Nicolau Chanterene) escaped without significant damage.

For many decades the ruins remained untouched, but they still astonished young prince Ferdinand. In 1838, as King consort Ferdinand II, he decided to acquire the old monastery, all of the surrounding lands, the nearby Castle of the Moors and a few other estates in the area. King Ferdinand then set out to transform the remains of the monastery into a palace that would serve as a summer residence for the Portuguese royal family. The commission for the Romantic style rebuilding was given to Lieutenant-General and mining engineer Baron Wilhelm Ludwig von Eschwege. Eschwege, a German amateur architect, was much traveled and likely had knowledge of several castles along the Rhine river. The construction took place between 1842–1854, although it was almost completed in 1847: King Ferdinand and Queen Maria II intervened decisively on matters of decoration and symbolism. Among others, the King suggested vault arches, Medieval and Islamic elements be included, and he also designed an ornate window for the main façade (inspired by the chapter house window of the Convent of the Order of Christ in Tomar).

After the death of Ferdinand the palace passed into the possession of his second wife Elisa Hensler, Countess of Edla. The latter then sold the palace to King Luís, who wanted to retrieve it for the royal family, and thereafter the palace was frequently used by the family. In 1889 it was purchased by the Portuguese State, and after the Republican Revolution of 1910 it was classified as a national monument and transformed into a museum. The last queen of Portugal, Queen Amélia, spent her last night at the palace before leaving the country in exile.

The palace quickly drew visitors and became one of Portugal's most visited monuments. Over time the colors of the red and yellow façades faded, and for many years the palace was visually identified as being entirely gray. By the end of the 20th century the palace was repainted and the original colors restored.

In 1995, the palace and the rest of the Cultural Landscape of Sintra were classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

[wikipedia]

Located in the Sintra hills, the Park and Palace of Pena are the fruit of King Ferdinand II’s creative genius and the greatest expression of 19th-century romanticism in Portugal, denoting clear influences from the Manueline and Moorish styles of architecture. The palace was built in such a way as to be visible from any point in the park, which consists of a forest and luxuriant gardens with over five hundred different species of trees originating from the four corners of the earth.

The castle's history started in the Middle Ages when a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Pena was built on the top of the hill above Sintra. According to tradition, construction occurred after an apparition of the Virgin Mary.

In 1493, King John II, accompanied by his wife Queen Leonor, made a pilgrimage to the site to fulfill a vow. His successor, King Manuel I, was also very fond of this sanctuary, and ordered the construction of a monastery on this site which was donated to the Order of Saint Jerome. For centuries Pena was a small, quiet place for meditation, housing a maximum of eighteen monks.

In the 18th century the monastery was severely damaged by lightning. However, it was the Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755, occurring shortly afterwards, that took the heaviest toll on the monastery, reducing it to ruins. Nonetheless, the chapel (and its works of marble and alabaster attributed to Nicolau Chanterene) escaped without significant damage.

For many decades the ruins remained untouched, but they still astonished young prince Ferdinand. In 1838, as King consort Ferdinand II, he decided to acquire the old monastery, all of the surrounding lands, the nearby Castle of the Moors and a few other estates in the area. King Ferdinand then set out to transform the remains of the monastery into a palace that would serve as a summer residence for the Portuguese royal family. The commission for the Romantic style rebuilding was given to Lieutenant-General and mining engineer Baron Wilhelm Ludwig von Eschwege. Eschwege, a German amateur architect, was much traveled and likely had knowledge of several castles along the Rhine river. The construction took place between 1842–1854, although it was almost completed in 1847: King Ferdinand and Queen Maria II intervened decisively on matters of decoration and symbolism. Among others, the King suggested vault arches, Medieval and Islamic elements be included, and he also designed an ornate window for the main façade (inspired by the chapter house window of the Convent of the Order of Christ in Tomar).

After the death of Ferdinand the palace passed into the possession of his second wife Elisa Hensler, Countess of Edla. The latter then sold the palace to King Luís, who wanted to retrieve it for the royal family, and thereafter the palace was frequently used by the family. In 1889 it was purchased by the Portuguese State, and after the Republican Revolution of 1910 it was classified as a national monument and transformed into a museum. The last queen of Portugal, Queen Amélia, spent her last night at the palace before leaving the country in exile.

The palace quickly drew visitors and became one of Portugal's most visited monuments. Over time the colors of the red and yellow façades faded, and for many years the palace was visually identified as being entirely gray. By the end of the 20th century the palace was repainted and the original colors restored.

In 1995, the palace and the rest of the Cultural Landscape of Sintra were classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

[wikipedia]

Located in the Sintra hills, the Park and Palace of Pena are the fruit of King Ferdinand II’s creative genius and the greatest expression of 19th-century romanticism in Portugal, denoting clear influences from the Manueline and Moorish styles of architecture. The palace was built in such a way as to be visible from any point in the park, which consists of a forest and luxuriant gardens with over five hundred different species of trees originating from the four corners of the earth.

The castle's history started in the Middle Ages when a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Pena was built on the top of the hill above Sintra. According to tradition, construction occurred after an apparition of the Virgin Mary.

In 1493, King John II, accompanied by his wife Queen Leonor, made a pilgrimage to the site to fulfill a vow. His successor, King Manuel I, was also very fond of this sanctuary, and ordered the construction of a monastery on this site which was donated to the Order of Saint Jerome. For centuries Pena was a small, quiet place for meditation, housing a maximum of eighteen monks.

In the 18th century the monastery was severely damaged by lightning. However, it was the Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755, occurring shortly afterwards, that took the heaviest toll on the monastery, reducing it to ruins. Nonetheless, the chapel (and its works of marble and alabaster attributed to Nicolau Chanterene) escaped without significant damage.

For many decades the ruins remained untouched, but they still astonished young prince Ferdinand. In 1838, as King consort Ferdinand II, he decided to acquire the old monastery, all of the surrounding lands, the nearby Castle of the Moors and a few other estates in the area. King Ferdinand then set out to transform the remains of the monastery into a palace that would serve as a summer residence for the Portuguese royal family. The commission for the Romantic style rebuilding was given to Lieutenant-General and mining engineer Baron Wilhelm Ludwig von Eschwege. Eschwege, a German amateur architect, was much traveled and likely had knowledge of several castles along the Rhine river. The construction took place between 1842–1854, although it was almost completed in 1847: King Ferdinand and Queen Maria II intervened decisively on matters of decoration and symbolism. Among others, the King suggested vault arches, Medieval and Islamic elements be included, and he also designed an ornate window for the main façade (inspired by the chapter house window of the Convent of the Order of Christ in Tomar).

After the death of Ferdinand the palace passed into the possession of his second wife Elisa Hensler, Countess of Edla. The latter then sold the palace to King Luís, who wanted to retrieve it for the royal family, and thereafter the palace was frequently used by the family. In 1889 it was purchased by the Portuguese State, and after the Republican Revolution of 1910 it was classified as a national monument and transformed into a museum. The last queen of Portugal, Queen Amélia, spent her last night at the palace before leaving the country in exile.

The palace quickly drew visitors and became one of Portugal's most visited monuments. Over time the colors of the red and yellow façades faded, and for many years the palace was visually identified as being entirely gray. By the end of the 20th century the palace was repainted and the original colors restored.

In 1995, the palace and the rest of the Cultural Landscape of Sintra were classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

[wikipedia]