Sintra, Pena Palace and Park Entrance Ticket

Explore the awe-inspiring Pena Palace, an iconic landmark renowned for its grandeur and distinctive architectural style. This masterpiece hails from the era of Romanticism and sits majestically atop a rocky outcropping, positioned as the second highest summit within the Sintra Hills.

The palace stands in the eastern portion of the Park of Pena, accessible via a steep ramp constructed by Baron von Eschwege. This ramp leads to a majestic castle-like structure adorned with fantastical elements resembling imaginary castles. Comprising two wings—originally a Manueline monastery founded by the Order of Saint Jerome and subsequently a 19th-century wing designed by King Ferdinand II—the complex features a central third architectural element—a wondrous castle-like façade. This facade encircles three distinct sections: the northern section includes the former monastery of Our Lady of Pena, renovated during King Ferdinand II’s reign; the southern wing houses the New Palace, completed in 1843 with large rooms and a circular tower overlooking the kitchens; and the western wing, featuring the Great Hall, showcases extensive renovations.

King Ferdinand II acquired the former Hieronymite monastery of Our Lady of Pena in 1838, originally established by King Manuel I in 1511 atop the hill near Sintra but abandoned due to suppression of religious orders in Portugal in 1834. Today, this site constitutes the northern portion of the Palace of Pena, formerly referred to as the Old Palace. During his renovation efforts, King Ferdinand II commissioned Baron von Eschwege to oversee the construction of the palace. His subsequent expansion involved the addition of a new wing with larger rooms, culminating in a circular tower alongside the kitchen area.

In 1994, restoration projects reestablished the original exteriors’ hues, including the pink coloration for the northern wing and ochre for the southern wing. Transforming a monastery into a castle-like residence, King Ferdinand II demonstrated significant influence from German Romanticism, likely drawing inspiration from the Stolzenfels and Rheinstein castles along the Rhine and Babelsberg Palace in Potsdam. These modifications concluded around the mid-1860s. Further interior decorations were carried out after various periods, such as the landscaping of the Park of Pena, modeled after romantic gardens popularized during the era, incorporating winding pathways, pavilions, and stone benches scattered throughout the park, complemented by diverse flora sourced from every corner of the globe. The palace was designated a National Monument in 1910 and is now included within the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Cultural Landscape of Sintra.".