The relic of the National Palace of Sintra

When visiting the beautiful Village of Sintra, one of the most visible symbols that awaken our eyes are the two tall conical chimneys. These are part of the fantastic and emblematic National Palace of Sintra, a heritage of more than five centuries of existence from the Islamic to the Christian period.

We started our visit in Lisbon on a bright blue sky morning and traveled to the National Palace of Sintra for about thirty kilometers.

Location of National Palace of Sintra

The National Palace of Sintra is the Muslim origin and its first building probably came out during the 10th to 11th centuries. After the arrival of Christians from the 12th century onwards, it became the residence of the Portuguese Royal Family. It was also a space that until the 18th century was the center of economic and legal management in the surrounding region.

Successively through a serie of constructions interventions, the National Palace of Sintra resulted in its current configuration, since the middle of the 16th century up today.

The monarchs D. Diniz, D. João I and D. Manuel I in the middle ages and later in the renaissance period with D. João III gave their contribution leaving each one their artistic tendencies.

Its architectural profile is a combination of Gothic, Moorish and Manueline and its interior has a unique value of the Hispano-Moorish tiles and decorative art collections from the 16th to the 18th centuries.

The arcades at the entrance to the National Palace of Sintra the symbol of imperial power The 16th century spiral staircase leading to the part of the palace of D. João I and D. Filipa of Lencastre

Model of the National Palace of Sintra in the Entrance Hall

Archers Guard Room. As the Palace was a social space it was through this room that it was established the connection between various social strata and the royal family Swan Room. The large room of D. João I and D. Filipa de Lencastre his wife. Everyone who entered the Palace could access this space. In the following divisions only few members of the high nobility as the clergy or important embassadors could enter

Archers Guard Room. As the Palace was a social space it was through this room that it was established the between the various social strata and the royal family Magpies (birds) Room. The ceiling is painted with 136 magpies probably due the connection of Queen Filipa with the English House of Lencastre. The furniture suggests the audience space

View from the Swan Room to the Courtyard of the Audience

Chamber of Gold. In the 15th and 16th centuries this room was covered in gold. It was were the monarch received people of higher social status. Here the king could also sleep Room of D. João I and D. Filipa de Lencastre. It is believed that this room in the 15th century served as support for the wardrobe

Room of D. João I and D. Filipa of Lencastre. It is believed that this room in the 15th century served as support for the wardrobe

Galley Hall of part of the palace built in the D. João III period. In the ceiling are painted old boats with flags of Portugal, the Ottoman Impire and the Netherlands The view to the gardens of the National Palace of Sintra in the upper part of the D. João I palace

Manueline door leading to the Heraldic Hall Partial view of the Heraldic Hall. The lower part of the dome above the tiles, shows the coats of arms of 72 most influential noble families in the kingdom

The octagonal dome representing the royal weapons at top and the coats of arms of eight sons of D. Manuel I with the second wife D. Maria of Aragão and Castile Walls covered with 18th century tiles in the Heraldic Hall

Chamber of D. Afonso VI (13th century). It was here that this monarch once deposed by his brother D. Pedro II was imprisoned for nine years before he died The Chapel in the period of D. Diniz reign. The ceiling preserves the Moorish art

In the Greenhouse Courtyard In the Arabs Room with Moorish tiles in a three-dimensional shape

The kitchen with two chimneys of 33 meters high , a huge space for big banquets from the hunting . It was built by D. João I The kitchen and the view of some utensils.

Manueline Room built in the time of D. Manuel I. Later, it served as accommodation room for D. Luis I The balcony in the palace part of D. Manuel I. It was the leisure space of the Queen D. Maria Pia of Saboia, wife of D. Luís I

Central Courtyard. In the center a spiral shaped water fountain (16th century) The bathing grotto, a quiet corner from the 15th century

To complete our visit to the National Palace of Sintra, we stroll through its beautiful gardens, which have a magnificent view of the mountains and the historic center of the village of Sintra.

The fish tank and the model of the National Palace of Sintra possible from the 15th century

View of one of the gardens of the National Palace of Sintra The spiraling Manueline column

View of an araucaria tree in the gardens of the National Palace of Sintra View from the garden terrace to the village of Sintra

And so it was our visit to the National Palace of Sintra where from the Arab peoples to the Portuguese Royal Family have left the presence of a space of great historical and cultural knowledge adding to the village of sintra the economic and social importance until today.

We hope that our readers and travel lovers will also be able to visit this magnificent heritage located in the beautiful natural landscape the Sintra Mountain.

References Parques de Sintra

Thanks to Manuel Manero for blogging recommendations

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