The castle stands on the top of a hill in the Sintra Mountains above the town of Sintra, and on a clear day it can be easily seen from Lisbon and much of its metropolitan area.
Pena Palace is a vibrant hilltop castle that once served as a summer retreat for Portugal’s royal family. And for good reason: It features whimsical architecture, sprawling gardens, and some of the best views of the village below.
Ferdinand II, enamored with romantic architecture, decided to call on architect Baron Wilhelm Ludwig von Eschwege to make his dream come true: transforming his new palace into a castle straight out of a fairytale
Why are there so many palaces and grand mansions in Sintra? Historically, the reason was due to the slightly cooler climate that the hills of the Serra de Sintra provide. This enticed the nobility of Portugal to construct their summer residences here.
Rain and fog are two of the hallmarks of Sintra. Truth be told – they’re part of its charm. Nobody is surprised to see that, regardless of the season, the morning in Sintra starts with drizzle. Those who live here already know the saying used during the summer season: “[the weather] will clear up after lunch