Palácio Nacional de Sintra(Sintra National Palace)

 Palácio Nacional de Sintra(Sintra National Palace)

The Palace is rich in history and one of the best preserved medieval Royal palaces in Portugal. The National Palace of Sintra was designated a National Monument in 1910 and forms part of the Cultural Landscape of Sintra, classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage since 1995.

The star of Sintra-Vila is this palace, with its iconic twin conical chimneys and lavish, whimsical interior, which is a mix of Moorish and Manueline styles, with arabesque courtyards, barley-twist columns, and 15th- and 16th-century geometric azulejos .

The Palace has octagonal Sala dos Cisnes (Swan Room), adorned with frescoes of 27 gold-collared swans, and the Sala das Pegas (Magpie Room), with its ceiling, emblazoned with magpies.

Besides there are the wooden Sala dos Brasões, bearing the shields of 72 leading 16th-century families, the shipshape Galleon Room, and the Palatine chapel featuring an Islamic mosaic floor. 

Pena Palace Terraces

One of the most beautiful ones is the Queen's terrace, which is also the highest terrace in the building. From here, you can get a good view of the rest of the palace and the valley. 

There is a vast view from this terrace ranging from the ocean in the distance on one side and Lisbon looking eastwards. Right in front, to the south, there stands the High Cross on the highest point in the Sintra Hills, at 528 meters above sea level. To the left, there stands a statue of a Knight, picturesquely posed upon a cliff top in the Park of Pena, a medieval warrior who seems to be standing guard over the Palace.

 

During the months of summer, an awning is extended over the original metallic structure, which enables the enjoyment of the views over the landscape from the comfort of shade just as in the times of the monarchy.

 

At the back of the Terrace, there is a small compartment named the Arabic Cabinet. A telescope was stored here for making long-distance observations.

The palace is worth watching.