Pena Palace
Pena Palace adorns the city of Sintra, it is called one of the most striking and memorable sights of Portugal. It is made in a pseudo-medieval style. The entire composition of the castle and the adjacent park is one of the early examples of romantic landscape architecture of the 19th century. Picturesque photographs are obtained on its background.
The history of Pena Palace
It can be seen from afar, because it is located on a high hill. When the sun breaks through the clouds, on the clearest day, the complex will be visible even in Lisbon. Since 1995, the Pena Palace has occupied an honorable place among the architectural monuments of UNESCO. It's hard to imagine now, but before this magnificent structure was just a small chapel. It was built on the place where the Virgin appeared to the Portuguese. In the 18th century, the building was struck by lightning several times in a row. After that, there was nothing but ruins on the site of the castle. The chapel and its marble decoration remained intact, without any significant damage.
Features of Pena Palace
For decades, the place looked like one solid ruin. In 1983, King Ferdinand II decided to restore the monastery to its former appearance. He was more guided by the fact that he wanted to build his summer residence on this place.
Construction work was carried out from 1842 to 1854. Everyone who held the highest rank in the government branch of the country actively used the Pena Palace before the revolution. After her, Pena Castle was named a national monument of architecture, and a museum was opened inside.
What does the Pena Palace look like?
The castle combines several styles at the same time: Neo-Gothic, Neo-Romanesque, Neo-Renaissance, neo-Islamic style. The palace is located on a high mountain, it is divided into four parts. The first part is the foundation that forms the walls and gates. The second part is an old monastery with a clock tower. There is also a courtyard with arches. And the fourth part is devoted to the palace territory with a bastion.
The inside of the palace is just as interesting as the outside. Guests have the opportunity to see how the kings lived. In one of these rooms, frescoes, murals, many paintings, furniture, sculptures, stained glass windows and much more attract attention. You can take a walk in the park and admire the beauty of the local nature.
