Palace of Sintra

SINTRA, Portugal — The Palace of Sintra sits in the heart of the old town section of Sintra. From 1385 through 1880 it was a royal residence and summer escape.

Coats-of-Arms Room (Sala dos Brascoes) at the Palace of Sintra, Sintra Portugal
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It sits in the heart of Sintra’s old town. It’s well beneath the hill with the Moorish Castle, but it still manages to be out on a point, overlooking the surrounding countryside and the new section of Sintra. And it’s two large conical spires can be seen from miles around–even from the Moorish Castle towering above.

But in an indication of how castle-rich this area is, I’d rank it as only the third-most impressive castle within a mile radius.

The site was once occupied by the Moorish rulers, with various governor’s residences and palaces occupying the site at least back to the 8th century.

After the Portuguese reconquered Portugal and drove the Moors out, in 1385 King João I (John I) ordered that the palace be rebuilt.

In the centuries following, bits and pieces were added. A particularly active period came in the late 15th and early 16th centuries when Manuel I added to the building extensively by taking cues from Moorish style. The result is something of a hodgepodge. There are interesting and impressive sections, but they never feel as though they’re part of a cohesive whole. Until the 1880s it served as an active royal residence and a favorite summer retreat, but it’s not what I’d call homely.

Oh, and those massive white cones? They’re not decorative or symbolic design elements—they’re chimneys for the massive kitchen underneath and were added in the 15th century.

Photos of the Palace of Sintra

Palatine Chapel (Capela Palatina) at the Palace of Sintra, Sintra Portugal

Exterior with Kitchen Chimnies at the Palace of Sintra, Sintra Portugal

Coats-of-Arms Room (Sala dos Brascoes) at the Palace of Sintra, Sintra Portugal

Chandelier in Manueline Hall (Sala Manuelina) at the Palace of Sintra, Sintra Portugal

Julius Caesar Room (Sala Julio Cesar) Palance of Sintra

Sala dos Cisnes (Swann Hall) Palance of Sintra

Kitchen at the Palace of Sintra, Sintra Portugal

Bed Chamber of King Sebastian at the Palace of Sintra, Sintra Portugal

Corridor at the Palace of Sintra, Sintra Portugal

Coats-of-Arms Room (Sala dos Brascoes) at the Palace of Sintra, Sintra Portugal

Galleon Room at the Palace of Sintra, Sintra Portugal

Julius Caesar Room (Sala Julio Cesar) Palance of Sintra

Mermaid Room at the Palace of Sintra, Sintra Portugal

Magpie Room at the Palace of Sintra, Sintra Portugal

Colored Marble Tiles at the Palace of Sintra, Sintra Portugal

I have more photos of the Palácio Nacional de Sintra here.

What to Know Before You Go

The Palace of Sintra sits right in the heart of the old section of Sintra and is right next to the bus stop for the route up to the Moorish Castle and Pena Castle.

Like everything else in Sintra, it can be swamped during tourist season. But I’d recommend starting with the Moorish Castle and Pena Castle and then circle back to the Palace of Sintra. It’s worth seeing, but in my humble opinion it isn’t as impressive as the other two.

David Coleman / Photographer

David Coleman

I'm a freelance travel photographer based in Washington DC. Seven continents, up mountains, underwater, and a bunch of places in between. My images have appeared in numerous publications, and you can check out some of my gear reviews and tips here. More »