Palacio Nacional Da Pena: This palace is one of the 7 wonders of Portugal

Bright yellow towers, playful archways and kitschy rooms – the Portuguese fairytale palace Palácio Nacional da Pena in Sintra attracts many visitors with its joy of colour. What hardly anyone knows: the pompous building was built by a German…

On the second highest peak of the Sintra Mountains, the Palácio Nacional da Pena rises almost surreal, an almost fairytale castle, colorful, somehow like a girl would imagine the dream house for her doll. It is one of the so-called Seven Wonders of Portugal, all of which are unique sights. In addition to the castle, these include the castle of Guimarães, the castle in Óbidos, the tower of Belém and the three monasteries Mosteiro da Batalha, Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and the Mosteiro de Alcobaça.

What hardly anyone knows about the Palácio da Pena: It is thanks to a German that this architectural gem even exists – but first things first.

The walls were once a monastery

The building, built in 1490, originally served as a monastery. But in 1755 a devastating earthquake destroyed the buildings so badly that it was decided not to rebuild the walls. Over time the building fell into disrepair and the gardens became overgrown. When the then King Ferdinand II visited the ruins, he was so impressed by the mild climate, the wide landscape and the pleasantly fresh air that he decided that this spot should become the royal summer residence. He then commissioned Baron Wilhelm Ludwig von Eschwege to build the Palácio Nacional da Pena from the ruins of the monastery.

Just a caveat

Ferdinand II only gave Eschwege one restriction: the palace should be reminiscent of an opera house. Eschwege designed the rest according to his wishes: playful, colorful and extravagant. The building is somewhat reminiscent of the buildings by the artist Hundertwasser, who combined colors and shapes in his buildings in a creative and innovative way, because the Portuguese fairytale castle also combines different architectural styles and color combinations.

Influenced by Neo-Gothic, Neo-Renaissance and other historical architectural styles, the result is a castle that is unique in the world and attracts tourists from all over the world with its colorful painting. However, this also has its price: A day visit to the park and palace currently costs 14 euros for adults, according to the “Parques de Sintra” website.

No room is like the other

The interior of the castle is just as colorful and pompous as the exterior. The interior has been completely preserved from the 19th century. No two rooms are the same, the walls are full of pictures and the furniture is colorful and playful. Tiles of various colors adorn the walls, stucco is attached to the ceiling and Baroque influences can be found everywhere. “The Middle Ages could have been so beautiful if it had only taken place a little later,” writes an enthusiastic visitor in his review on Tripadvisor. Not only as a romantic you can be inspired by the colorful Palácio Nacional da Pena.

Impressive park area

Despite its popularity, you can always find a quiet spot in the Palácio Nacional da Pena to take in the special nature and the fairytale surroundings. The green park area around the palace is full of small paths leading to fountains, ponds, statues and many other surprises, which makes the palace an interesting destination for families as well.

The extensive wooded park also houses countless plants of various origins, which Ferdinand II had delivered from all over the world. So it is that today American, Japanese and New Zealand flora share a garden. A visitor writes on Tripadvisor: “The palace itself and the park area are beautiful! It is less the interior of the castle than the outdoor facilities and the view of the landscape that make the Pena so attractive. An absolute MUST if you travel to this area.” Since 1995, the Palácio Nacional da Pena has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.