Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
da Gama sailing up the river, returning safely from his great voyage. To celebrate and give
thanks, the king turned what was a humble wooden monastery into a fine stone palace.
Queen's Bedroom and Dressing Room:
Study the melancholy photos of Queen
Amelia, King Charles (Carlos I), and their family in this room. The early 1900s were a
rocky time for Portugal's royal family. The king and his eldest son were assassinated in
1908. His youngest son, Manuel II, became king until he, his mother the queen, and other
members of the royal family fled Portugal during the 1910 revolution. The palm frond on
the headboard of the queen's bed was from her last Palm Sunday Mass in Portugal. Poke
around. Throughout the palace, you'll see state-of-the-art conveniences (the first flush
toilets and hot shower in Portugal). The whole place is lovingly cluttered, typical of the
Victorian horror of empty spaces.
King's Bedroom:
The king enjoyed cutting-edge comforts, including the shower/tub
imported from England, and even a telephone to listen to the opera when he felt that the
Lisbon commute was too much (you'll see the switchboard later). The bedroom is decor-
ated in classic Romantic style—dark, heavy, and busy with knickknacks.
Queen's View Balcony:
On the upper floor, enjoy a sweeping view from Lisbon to
the mouth of the Rio Tejo. Find the Cristo Rei statue and the 25th of April Bridge. The
statue on the distant ridge honors the palace's architect.
The New Wing:
This spacious addition to the original series of rooms around the
cloister includes the apartments of the last king and the fantastically furnished Noble's
Room.
End of Palace Tour:
Your tour ends at the abundant kitchen; just after, a view café
conveniently welcomes us peasants. After touring the palace, you can return directly to
the main entrance (walk 10 minutes or catch the green shuttle bus—your ticket covers the
round-trip), or you can detour for a self-guided tour of the park.
PenaPalacePark:
The lush, captivating, and sprawling palace grounds, rated
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, are
dotted with romantic surprises, including the High Cross (highest point around, with com-
manding views), chapels, a temple, lakes, giant sequoia trees, and exotic plants. If you
want to walk through the park after you tour the palace, take a 30- to 40-minute stroll
downhill (following the park map that came with your palace admission) to the lower
park gate, where you'll find a bus stop and the Estrada de Pena loop road. From here, it's
a five-minute hike uphill to the Moorish Castle, or a 10-minute hike up to Pena Palace's
main entrance.
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Moorish Castle (Castelo dos Mouros)
Sintra's thousand-year-old ruins of a Moorish castle are lost in an enchanted forest and
alive with winds of the past. They're a castle lover's dream come true, and a great place
for a picnic with a panoramic Atlantic view. Though built by the Moors, the castle was
