Park and National Palace of Pena

Portugal

historypalace

Once the site of a chapel dating to the 12th century, King Manuel I subsequently constructed a Hieronymite monastery here. The devastating Lisbon earthquake of 1755 destroyed most of the monastery, and it was abandoned in 1834 when Portugal abolished religious orders.

In the mid-19th century, Ferdinand II acquired the monastery and surrounding land. He hired a German architect to build his dream castle, a fantastical sprawl of crenellations and colors. Today it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sintra is usually a good day trip from Lisbon; the train is inexpensive and easy to manage. Once you arrive at Sintra, you’ll have to take a bus up the hill to the palace. We highly recommend buying a ticket online in advance; the line at the entrance can be quite long (we’ve heard there can be a three-hour wait during peak tourist season).