Inside Pena Palace | Chapel, Noble Room & must-see highlights

The interior of Pena Palace features ornate stuccos, multi-patterned columns, Moorish-arched ceilings, and much of the original monastery’s chapel. Many rooms inside Pena Palace are painted in trompe-l’oeil which is an amazing painting method that gives the illusion of depth and layering while only using paint.

The Queen’s terrace of Pena Palace is an exquisite place for any visitor - affording majestic views across the palace, Sintra Valley, and Moorish Castle. In front of the Queen’s terrace, you can see the High Cross, which is located at the highest point of the Sintra mountain range. There is a vast view from this terrace ranging from the ocean in the distance on one side and Lisbon looking eastwards.

The Chapel of Our Lady of Pena in Pena Palace is one of the few remaining original structures from the former monastery. Parts of the original monastery were destroyed in an earthquake, leading to the construction of the present Pena Palace. The chapel is surprisingly small and its centerpiece is usually the altar.

The Office of King Carlos served as his place of work and leisure and adjoined the king’s bedroom. On the walls, there are paintings on fabric by King Carlos himself, depicting nymphs and fawns in the Park of Pena. The paintings may have been left unfinished due to the 1908 regicide that saw the assassination of both King Carlos and his eldest son.

Pena Palace is comprised of two wings: one built over a former monastery (painted pink) and a new one (painted yellow). The palace is ringed by storybook watchtowers, battlements, and even a drawbridge. The watchtowers are of various shapes and provide stunning views of Sintra from the second-highest vantage point on Sintra Hill. The palace was elected one of the seven wonders de Portugal on 7 July 2007.

The Manueline Cloister is a point of interest within Pena Palace. Visitors access the interiors of Pena Palace along a route that was reserved for the Royal Family up until 1910 and also corresponds to the entranceway of monks into the monastery prior to 1834. Ferdinand II redesigned this entrance to establish a double staircase with parallel flights. The cloister is one of many elements preserved from the remains of the Hieronymite convent including the dining room, sacristy, and Manueline-Renaissance chapel.

The Courtyard of Arches is a terrace located within Pena Palace. It is named after its arches that provide a view of a vast landscape looking out over the Atlantic Ocean and the Sintra Hills1. From this vantage point, visitors may also view the Park of Pena, planted by Ferdinand who transformed the rough landscape of the hills into a romantic park with trees brought in from all over the world.

The Royal Dining Room is a grand room where the royal family would dine. It features ornate decorations and furnishings that give you a sense of what it was like to dine like royalty. The room is adorned with beautiful paintings and tapestries that add to its grandeur. The table is set with fine china and silverware, giving you an idea of the lavish meals that were served here.

Inside Pena Palace, you will pass through various staterooms that served as the summer residence for the royal family 1. Some of these staterooms include a royal dining room, noble room, bedrooms and a chapel. There are also some large assembly rooms inside such as Sala de Visitas, Salão Nobre and the King’s Chambers. The interior of Pena Palace is impressive with many staterooms styled with fine examples of grand 19th-century furniture