Monserrate the exotic and romantic garden

Visiting the Monserrate Palace in the Sintra Mountain take us to the immensity of a space with gardens of exotic plants from various parts of the world, with the romanticism of Portugal being present. It is also part of this romanticism, the beautiful Palace that combines Gothic, Indian and Moorish influences.

Among some illustrious owners who passes through the former farm of Monserrate, Francis Cook the English textile millionaire Viscount of Monserrate stands out for the creation what is now the Palace of Monserrate.

Thus it was in the year 1863 that Francis Cook’s project, together has been completed together with the intervention of the architect James Knowles and other figures such as the landscape architect William Stockdale, the botanist William Nevil and James Burt the master gardener. This beautiful Palace of Monserrate together with its Park was Francis Cooks’s summer holiday residence.

We then have started our journey from Lisbon travelling about thirty kilometers to the Palace of Monserrate.

Location map of Palace of Monserrate

The schematic map below shows the main points visited at the Palace of Monserrate and it will serve as the reference for the pictures.

Schematic map of Palace of Monserrate source https://www.parquesdesintra.pt

A few meters of the entrance it is the fantastic Vathek Arch, alluding to the former owner of the farm of Monserrate, the writer William Beckford and his literary novel Vathek. We then went down the slope entering to the Park where we have enjoyed the view of the waterfall, the lakes, the ruin of the Chapel and countless plant species in particular in the Mexico Garden.

The Vathek Arch

Lake Hippocrene (A) a reference to the legendary fountain of Greek Mitology

Still on the Lake Hippocrene with a passage of boulders

Beckford Waterfall (B)

Carnaubeira a species of palm tree in the Beckford Waterfall

On the way to Valley of Ferns

In the Valley of Ferns (C)

A collection of ferns

Lateral view of the ruins of Chapel (D)

In the interior of the ruins of Chapel

A giant taxodium tree on the way to the Ornamental Lakes

In the Ornamental Lakes (E) with a view to the Palace in the bottom

A banana tree in the garden area of Mexico (F)

Agave species around the sidewalk

A palm tree in the Mexico Garden

Yucca gigantea plant in the Mexico Garden

Furcraea selloa plant in the Mexico Garden

Echeveria species at the top of the Mexico Garden

Prickly pear cactus at the top of Mexico Garden

Strawberry tree fruit at the top of Mexico Garden

Under the Australian bunya pine of the araucaria species at the top of Mexico Garden

After visiting the Mexico Garden we climb the grass area (G) of the ramp with a view of the lateral facade of the Palace. There, the landscape has a fantastic view with a huge green space to walk and also enjoy part of the Sintra Mountain.

The walk to the grass area. Behind part of the Sintra Mountain

Species Cameciparis (China)

View from the grass area to the Palace

Lateral facade of the Palace with arches of Gothic and Moorish inflences

The Palace has a gallery along the atrium where some pieces of Francis Cook’s collection are exhibited as well as several rooms for various events by that time, the Library and private rooms.

On the way to to the Palace along the balcony

The fountain in the entrance of the Palace

The Main Atrium Dome in octagonal shape with the Gothic arches

Central Gallery Atrium in Gothic, and exotic Indian and Moorish style

Music Room. The social gathering place for Francis Cook´s guests

Visiting room where visitors were received and for informal and family gatherings

The beautiful library door

General view of Library

View of the Chapel window

The kitchen below the Atrium

On the upper floor where the private rooms were located

A circular turret at the exit of the Palace

View of the steps perfumed near the Indian Arch

The Indian Arch (I)

At the exit of Palace of Monserrate

The exotic romanticism of the Palace of Monserrate with its huge natural Park with countless plant species and the harmony of the Palace’s interior architecture with the garden is the true beauty and it reflects the tranquility of a space where his creator passionately wanted to leave his leagcy.

We love! We also hope that our readers and travel lovers might visit and relive the romanticism and exoticism of the Palace of Monserrate.

References Parques de Sintra

Thanks to Manuel Manero for blogging recommendations

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Rui Vasconcelos

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Monserrate the exotic and romantic garden

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