Reflecting a diverse mix of romantic styles of architecture, the Pena Place (Palácio da Pena) sprawls out on a summit within the Sintra Mountains, northwest of Lisbon. The palace was built originally as a summer home in the mid-1800’s for the royal family by Ferdinand II, on the site of the ruins of a 15th century convent that had been damaged by lightning and finally destroyed by the 1755 earthquake. The palace was used by the royal family up until the Republican Revolution of 1910, and it was here that Queen Amélia was spending the night when she found out (by telephone) the monarchy had been abolished.
The ornate and brightly colored towers are true to the original construction, part of a late 20th century renovation. The palace is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and a very popular tourist destination, along with several other nearby sites including a Moorish castle. One of the best attractions is a well-tended forest reserve below the palace with trails, containing plants from Asia, the South Pacific, and North America, including mature Sequoia trees and tree ferns.
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