10 Things Inside Pena Palace You Can’t Miss

Pena Palace is a house of surprises, where you will find a lot of must-visit sites in just one castle, and millions of people visit it.

This means it can get crowded, and it can be difficult to see everything in one day.

Therefore, a proper itinerary is necessary if you want to get the most out of your trip. 

If you are visiting with kids, it is especially important to take your time and dig into the experience.

This article will tell you everything about the places, rooms, garden spots, statues, etc., you see inside Pena Palace.

Pena Palace Interior

Inside the majestic castle of Pena Palace are hidden rooms, spots, or even halls that still carry enough history to lure visitors.

These not only make the National Palace de Pena more special, but they will also help you understand royal life in Portugal even better.

The Pena Palace is made up of two wings: the new wing, constructed in the 19th century, and the old wing, built over the ruins of a 400-year-old monastery. 

The old wing is painted pink, while the new wing is painted yellow.

The old wing was originally used as a monastery, but it was abandoned after the earthquake of 1755. 

King Ferdinand II bought the ruins of the monastery in 1842 and began to transform them into a palace. 

He added the new wing as well as the watchtowers, battlements, and drawbridge.

The fourteen monk cells were enlarged and given vaulted ceilings, and they were used by the royals when the Pena Palace became their summer residence. 

The dining room, which features a Manueline ceiling, is the former refectory. 

The old chapel has been left largely untouched, except for a stained glass window added in 1841, which depicts Vasco da Gama kneeling before King Manuel I.

So, if you plan a trip to Pena Palace, know all the points of interest inside it to ensure you get everything.

Coach Terraces

As you arrive at the Coach House’s terrace, the high cross standing on the tall peak of Sinatra Hills will catch your eye. 

The King explicitly built this terrace to store coaches on the ground floor and quarters for the servants on the upper floor. 

When you enter there, you will start noticing small references to India.

From the flaps over the window, which are common in the South Asian country. 

Another reference point is the Bulbous Cupola from the terrace, which you can see in many fortresses in Northern India.

Triton’s Terrace

The Triton Terrace at Pena Palace is the wing’s entrance, also known as the New Palace.

Triton, the gigantic monstrous sculpture on the terrace, is a mythical legend of a half man and half fish.

Queen’s Terrace

The Queen’s Terrace at Pena Palace is one of a kind, given its vast view of the ocean from one side and Lisbon from the other.

You can see the High Cross from the south side and a statue of the Knight on the eastern side. 

But one thing that makes it even more interesting is its ties to King Carlos and Queen Amelia, who adored this terrace.

They often sat here and relaxed while watching the fantastic seaside views.

The room was also a special place where a telescope was kept for long-distance observations by the monarchs. 

Green Room

The green room is breathtaking due to its contrasting color compared to the Palace’s exteriors.

The chiaroscuro green painting that still hangs in this room was one of the first mural decorations to be added to a Pena room.

It is an antechamber to the Pena Palace’s sitting room.

Beautifully decorated and preserved, the four sculptures around the green room depict

• Pedro V
• Louise of Orléans
• Queen of the Belgians
• Charles Albert, King of Sardinia
• An Allegory of Winter

Smoking Room

The National Palace de Pena smoking room is often unspoken of but has splendid art references that will blow your mind.

The incorporation of Islamic styles with Portuguese architecture created a beautiful room that is worth a visit.

Entering the room, you will first notice its beautiful ceiling, which comes from the 14th-century Sintra Chapel.

This does not end here; given its aesthetic graphics, the room made for smoking soon turned into a music room.

Great Hall

Also known as the Billiards Room, it was the most prominent socializing place in the National Palace of Pena, Sintra.

However, both the billiard tables are missing from 1940, but you can still spot them in front of the sofas and mirror.

They add a leisurely ambiance to the room while keeping it classy and royal, as the Portuguese monarch liked.

Every element of the Gothic architecture has gilded brass, including the 72-flame chandelier, the four oil lamps, and the torch holders. 

The monarch’s extraordinary collection of stained glass windows from Central Europe also adds to the splendor of this hall. 

Final Residents’ Room

The National Palace de Pena’s main bedroom, which served as the room’s wardrobe, is now formally a museum for its previous occupants.

As a final tribute to the last monarchs, you will notice a silver centerpiece as you enter the room.

The centerpiece has a French connection, as it was presented by the Paris noblemen, representing and symbolizing the stunning city.

Learn more about its previous owners in our article, Pena Palace History, to learn about all the hidden secrets.

Dining Room at Pena Palace and Pantry

The dining rooms are available in everyone’s home, but the one at the National Palace de Pena is huge.

It has a majestic dining table serving about 24 diners, porcelain plates, fruit bowls, and crystal glasses bearing royal crowns.

In the Pantry cupboard, you can also spot two dinner services that belonged to Ferdinand II and bear his unique monograms.

Dressing Room of Queen Amelia and the Tea Room

Many people might be fascinated by this beautiful room from the 19th century, where Queen Amelia got dressed or enjoyed her tea.

The dressing room contains

• A large wardrobe.
• A mirror with 12 drawers.
• A printed plaster decoration that elevates the entire room.

Moving ahead, the tea room, which provides continuity to the Queen’s private chamber, was an exclusive place where she would often socialize.

The Queen’s Office

First serving as the Countess of Elda’s room and then shifting to Queen Amelia’s room, the space more or less remains the same as it was during the 19th century.

You can still see the desk where the Queen wrote her correspondence and the Pua-Santo bookcases.

Moving back are the wooden columns, Spanish cabinets, and Meissen porcelain pieces that have been there since the Countess.

Sitting Room

This room contains the only mural painting in the entire palace with figuration.

Commissioned by Ferdinand II for the famous artist master Paolo Pizzi in 1854, the painting creates the illusion of a broader space than the actual limit of the room.

Another surprising fact is that the Portuguese furniture set has been perfectly preserved since the palace’s completion.

Stag Room

This was where most of the National Palace of Pena, Sintra, and banquets were held, a common feature adapted from German Romantic castles.

These rooms often evoke activities exclusive to hunting, as the genuine antler heads around the room refer to the same.

Kitchen inside Pena Palace

As one of the largest kitchens in Pena Palace, it still has two of the three original stoves present today.

Most copper objects inside the kitchen, from pans to plates, have the familiar initials P.P. (Pena Palace).

Certifying that they only belong to the stunning palace, along with a monogram of Ferdinand II.

The Chamber of King Carlos

King Carlos’s office served as his place of work and leisure and was adjoined by the King’s bedroom.

As soon as you enter the rooms, you will find fabric paintings on the walls depicting nymphs and fawns from the park.

Later, King Carlos adopted the room as a bathroom, which was a significant move toward the importance of hygiene at the time.

It also served as King Carlo’s dressing room.

Bedroom of Ferdinand II

This is the master bedroom of Pena Palace.

Its interior is painted plaster in a Neo-Mudéjar style from 1882, and the work of Domingos Meira is noteworthy.

They show Ferdinand’s taste for exoticism, inspired by the Islamic architectural style in Portuguese culture.

Pena Chapel

The former Monastery Church of Our Lady of Pena inspires the Pena Palace Chapel.

One particular highlight of the Chapel is its stained glass window on the opposite wall from the main altar.

Dating back to the 1840s, the glass reveals artistic intentions with political legitimacy behind the construction of the Palace.

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Featured Image: Pendulummag.com