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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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View of the Chapel window
On the upper floor where the private rooms were located
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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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