One place not to be missed if you have the opportunity to travel to Lisbon, is the nearby town of Sintra and its many castles and palaces, notably the Palacio da Pena.
This spectacular palace stands on the highest peaks of the Serra de Sintra. A castle built in the nineteenth century to King Ferdinand of Saxe, husband of Queen Maria II. The palace was built on the ruins of a fifteenth-century monaterio Jerome, who in turn had taken the place of a chapel dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Pena.
Fernando hired Von Eschwege German architect to design a building full of eccentricities and surrounded by some incredible gardens that can also be visited today. One of his greatest qualities is the mix of architectural styles: neo-gothic, neo-Manueline, neo-Islamic and neo-Renaissance. A Fernando loved to bring to the Pena Palace and its garden elements from around the world: why we can see New Zealand ferns and thulium giants in the garden and German stained glass, Chinese porcelain vases, candlesticks Eastern and Arab tapestries myriad of colors and details throughout the building.
When the republic was proclaimed from Portugal in 1910 the palace became a museum, preserved as it left the royal family. Fernando, the king called artist loved art, nature and new discoveries of his time. King consort is perfectly integrated into their adopted country and devoted his life to artistic patronage. His dream to build an extravagant palace was completed in 1885, the year of his death.
Lisbon is a great place to enjoy vacation after visiting the beach. Do not miss our recommended hotel in the Algarve.