Built with architectural references of Manueline and Moorish influence, the National Palace of Pena is the fruit of the dream of King Ferdinand II, who built a palace worthy of a fairy tale on the top of the Sintra Mountains.
It is one of the most visited places in Portugal, both by Portuguese and foreign tourists, who come here to admire one of the most photographed sites in the country.
But there are other curiosities about this palace that you might not know. Shall we find out?
1 – A monument to be admired from any side of the park
Located at the top of the Serra de Sintra, the Pena National Palace was built to be observed from anywhere in the park, forest and gardens that surround it.
2 – More than 2,000 species of trees
The entire area surrounding the National Palace of Pena is made up of 85 hectares of dense forest and lush gardens with more than 2,000 species of trees from all over the world, thanks to the microclimate in this region.
3 – The palace has two different wings
The National Palace of Pena consists of two wings: the area of the old convent, where the visit to the site begins; and a newer area, built further away from the convent.
While the first area stands out for its smaller, cozier rooms, the other is where you’ll find larger halls.
4 – Europe’s first romantic palace
Already considered one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal, the Pena Palace is one of the best expressions of 19th century Romanticism in the world, as it was the first romantic palace in Europe, built 30 years before the charismatic Schloss Neuschwanstein in Bavaria.
5 – Cultural Landscape – World Heritage Site
In 1995, UNESCO classified the mountains and historic town of Sintra as a World Heritage Cultural Landscape, the first application of this category in the whole of Europe.
Both the Palace and the Pena Park are included in this classification, among other monuments in Lisbon.
