Pena National Palace

One of the most visited monuments in Portugal, Pena Palace attracts large crowds every day. For this reason, we usually do not recommend visiting the interiors. The real hidden gem is the surrounding park, filled with rich biodiversity and peaceful forest paths. While most visitors stay near the palace terraces, the deeper you walk into the forest, the quieter and more magical the experience becomes.

História:

The origins of Pena date back to a small chapel built high in the mountains, believed to be closer to heaven.

According to legend, King Manuel I witnessed Vasco da Gama’s return from India from this location in 1503. To honor the moment, the chapel was transformed into a humble convent that became a place of worship and pilgrimage for nearly three centuries.

In the 19th century, King Ferdinand II purchased the old convent in ruins and transformed it into the extraordinary fairy tale palace we see today, blending history, imagination, and Romantic architecture