The National Palace of Sintra or City Palace is located in the central part of the city. Today, the residence of the kings belongs to the state and is one of the most visited attractions in Portugal. The palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Historical excursion and architecture
The snow-white structure in Sintra is easily recognized by the two towers 33 meters high – these cones are kitchen chimneys and hoods. Among all the palaces of Sintra, the National Castle is the best preserved, as it was permanently inhabited by members of the royal family from the 15th to the 19th centuries.
The history of the castle begins in the 12th century, when the Portuguese King Afonso I conquered Sintra and made the palace a personal residence.
For two centuries, the residence has not been renovated or changed its appearance.
In the 14th century, King Dinish I decided to expand the territory of the palace-a chapel was added. At the beginning of the 15th century, the monarch Joao I started a large-scale reconstruction of the royal residence in Stntre. During his reign, the main building of the palace was built, the facade is decorated with exquisite arches and window openings, decorated in a unique Manueline style.
As a result of the reconstruction, the landmark outside and inside harmoniously combines many styles. Initially, the design of the National Palace of Sintra in Portugal was dominated by the Moorish style, but over the centuries of reconstruction and rebuilding, little remains of it. Most of the surviving and restored parts of the palace date back to the reign of John I, who was actively involved in and financed the construction and restoration work.
The second stage of reconstruction of the castle falls on the 16th century and the reign of King Manuel I. During this historical period, the Gothic style and the Renaissance were in fashion. According to the idea of the monarch, the Manueline style and the Indian style were added to the design of the palace. It was Manuel I who built the Coat of Arms Hall, decorated with a ceiling made of natural wood, where the coats of arms of the most noble families of Portugal, including the royal one, are placed.
After the 16th century, members of the royal family of Portugal appeared in the palace infrequently, but they always changed something in the interior. In 1755, the palace was badly damaged in an earthquake, but quickly restored, the sights returned to their former, luxurious appearance, brought old furniture and restored ceramic tiles.
On a note! The most visited and unique palace in Sintra is Pena. For more information about it, see this page.
What can you see in the palace today?
Every room of the National Palace of Sintra is admired and genuinely interesting.
The most striking and majestic is the Coat of Arms or Armory Hall, whose windows overlook the ocean. According to one legend, the King of Portugal, being in this room, saw off or met the fleet. The room is famous for its ceiling, where 72 coats of arms of the most noble families of the country are located.
The swan Hall is decorated in Manueline style. The ceiling of the room is decorated with an elegant painting-it depicts swans, which is why the room is so named. The royal wedding ceremony was held here.
On the lower level is the Palace Chapel, which was founded by King Diniz and designed by King Manuel I.
The Hall of forty is decorated with birds, a palace legend is associated with this room. Once the queen caught her husband in an awkward situation when he was kissing a lady-in-waiting. However, the monarch strongly denied the affair and, so that the gossip of the magpies no longer disturbed the family idyll, ordered to paint the ceiling of the hall with birds. There are exactly as many magpies as there were women in the palace — 136. Each magpie holds in its beak the emblem “for honor” and a rose – the symbol of the royal Portuguese family.
The Moorish hall is also known as the Arab Hall – this is the royal bedroom. Here is the oldest azlejuh ceramic tile in Portugal.
The kitchen is built away from the palace premises to eliminate the risk of fire. A fire for cooking was built on the floor, and pipes were used as ventilation, through which tourists find the palace today.
Even today, banquets are held and served in the castle, the main thing is to observe the safety rules. Water is supplied to the palace from the mountain.
How to get there
Commuter trains run from the Portuguese capital to Sintra, which takes only 40 minutes. Trains depart every 10-20 minutes from 5: 40 am to 01: 00 am. The schedule can be viewed on the official website of the Portuguese Railway. www.cp.pt. There are several routes available:
- from Rossio Station, located in the center of Lisbon, to Sintra Station;
- from Orient station via Entrecampos station.
You can pay for the train ride with a VIVA Viagem card, in which case a one-way ticket will cost 2.25 euros. You must attach the card to a special machine at the departure station and arrival point.
It is important! If you are staying in the center of Lisbon, it is more convenient to return from Sintra by taking the train to Rossio station.
From the station it is pleasant and exciting to walk, the road will take no more than a quarter of an hour. If you don’t want to go on foot, take the bus number 434 or 435. However, keep in mind that in the summer you will have to stand in a long queue. The bus stop is located to the right of the station building.
If you are traveling by car, follow the IC19 highway if you are coming from Lisbon. From Mafra – the IC30 highway. From Cascais – EN9 via A5.
Useful information
- The Royal Palace of Sintra is located at Largo Rainha Dona Amelia, 2710-616.
- You can visit the castle daily from 9-30 to 19-00, buy tickets and enter the territory until 18-30.
Ticket price:
- adult (18-64 years) – 10 EUR
- children (from 6 to 17 years) – 8.5 EUR
- for pensioners (over 65 years of age) – 8.5 EUR.
- family ticket (2 adults and 2 children) – 33 EUR.
Please note! There are five castles in Sintra.
If you want to see all of them in one day, then there is only enough time for a walk around the palace. If you want to explore the interiors, one day is only enough for three castles. On average, it takes 1.5 hours to visit one palace.
The National Palace of Sintra is located in the central part of the city near the town Hall. Of all the five palaces that Sintra has, the royal residence is the oldest. It is very easy to recognize the castle – two huge chimneys are installed on its roof. Despite the fact that the interior of the halls is not as lush and luxurious as in other European palaces, many tourists come to Sintra to enjoy the incredible atmosphere and be transported back in time.
Mafra Palace – the largest residence of kings in Portugal
