Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
revolt that eventually made way for today's modern republic). This gives the place a
charming intimacy rarely seen in palaces. Here are the highlights.
Entry:
After you hop off the green shuttle bus, walk up through the Moorish archway
with alligator decor. Get your ticket torn, cross the drawbridge that doesn't draw, and join
an onion-domed world of tourists frozen in deep knee-bends with their cameras cocked.
At the base of the stairs, you'll see King Ferdinand, who built this castle from 1840 until
1885, when he died. Though German, he was a romantic proponent of his adopted culture
and did much to preserve Portugal's architectural and artistic heritage.
Courtyard:
The palace was built on the site of a 16th-century monastery; the court-
yard was the former location of the cloister. In spite of its plushness, the palace retains the
monkish coziness of several small rooms gathered in two levels around the cloister.
Like its big brother in Belém, the monastery housed followers of St. Jerome, the hermit
monk. Like their namesake, the monks wanted to be isolated, and this was about as isol-
ated as you could be around here 500 years ago. The spot was also a popular pilgrimage
destination for its statue of “Our Lady of the Feathers” (
pena
means feather—hence the
palace's name). In 1498 King Manuel was up here enjoying the view when he spied Vasco
