I fell in love with Pena Palace straight away and I knew that I had to go there!
Commonly referred to as the Palacio da Vila, it is a wonderful flamboyant palace and possibly one of the best tourist attractions in Lisbon. Known as a popular pilgrimage place for its statue “Our Lady of the Feathers”, Pena means feather, hence the palace’s name. Just made to stand out and with such a romantic feeling and beautiful design, it is an amazing and unique building. There is so much to marvel at, but the exterior for me, gave it its star quality. The palace has grotesque gargoyles that peer down over the main entrance, and illusionary spiked walls all below the vividly painted exterior. The palace, in its present day form, was commissioned by Ferdinand August Franz Anton from Austria , who married into the Portuguese royal family and became King Ferdinand II.
Queluz Palace – One of the highlights inside is the Throne Room lined with mirrors and adorned with crystal chandeliers and gilded statues, beyond is the Music Room and The Ambassadors’ Room, which is just as outstanding, with a marble floor and a ceiling painting of the royal family. This palace was conceived as a summer retreat for Dom Pedro of Braganza and became the official residence of the Portuguese prince regent, John VI, and his family, and remained so until the Royal Family fled.
National Palace of Sintra – The Palace of Sintra, also called Town Palace, is a present-day historic house museum. The palace’s long history has been intertwined with the fortunes of Portugal’s ruling nobility.
The three palaces are amazing to see and all just a short distance from Lisbon. Seeing these wonderful historic buildings was, undoubtedly, the highlight of my time in Lisbon. All the palaces are an absolute must see!
