A Day Trip to Sintra – Pena Palace. Islamic Art Influence.

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Its that time of year again. Time of Year to jet off once again with Mama bear to Lisbon. This time was a little different though. Papa bear came too.

I think its turning into a tradition now, it wasn’t supposed to, but I think she’s taking advantage of the situation, and honestly so am I.

We did the usual as we do, plus and minus a few things.

Read here: A couple of hours in Lisbon

This time though we headed of to Sintra. There’s quite a lot to do in Sintra, but the main focus of our trip this time was Pena Palace.

Palacio De Pena – Sintra – Pena Palace

The ‘Palacio De Pena’ is a colourful and picturesque Romanticist castle that stands on the top of a hill in the Sintra Mountains. I’m not kidding when I say colourful, its bright Yellow, bright Red and Purple. I really don’t know what mood the architect was in , but its a hell of a vision.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal.

The palace was built in the 19th century and is known for its vibrant colours, its intricate design, and stunning views.

Built in 1854, visually designed by King Ferdinand II, it incorporates Gothic, Moorish and Renaissance architecture. Sitting on top of Sintra Mountains, it can be viewed from miles away. Especially because of its colourful and eclectic design. The bright colours and grand features, make it a vision, and curiosity takes the better of us.

The use of Islamic motifs and design elements in Pena Palace reflects the cultural exchange and influences that were prevalent in the 19th century.

Read here: Crush doughnuts- the best in Lisbon

Pena Palace Islamic Art

The Islamic influence in Pena Palace can be seen in various parts of the palace’s architecture. Some of the areas I managed to capture.

The use of horseshoe arches, a characteristic feature of Moorish architecture. This can be found in the design of doorways, windows, and passageways throughout the palace.

The Decorative Tiles, all Islamic-inspired, known as azulejos, are used to adorn the walls and facades of Pena Palace.

Islamic geometric patterns, such as intricate arabesques and geometric motifs, are incorporated into the stonework, plasterwork, and tilework of the palace, showcasing the influence of Islamic design aesthetics.

And the most prevalent has to be the Dome Structure. The use of domes and cupolas in certain parts of Pena Palace reflects the influence of Islamic architecture, where domes are commonly used in mosque design.

These elements collectively contribute to the Islamic influence in the architectural design of Pena Palace, adding to its unique and eclectic appearance.

How To

Getting to the Pena Palace is a job in itself. Cars are not allowed up. We parked up in the city of Sintra and then found some jeep safaris to take us up to the ticket office. The road up is quite thrilling, and a little adventure itself. Coaches/ buses are also available, but we found the jeep to be adventurous.

Once at Pena palace, their is more walking. Its actually a 30 minute walk uphill through some beautiful gardens. With Mama and Papa Bear this was not an option. Their is one mini bus which travels up and down at a cost of 3 euros each, and comes every 15 minutes.

Various tickets are available, some for just the gardens, some for exterior only, and some for the interior as well. We opted just for the exterior.

Having time constraints and a flight to catch the following day, this was the last of our trip. Honestly if I was to go back (I’m sure Mama bear will call me back up soon) I would definitely spend more time in Sintra and maybe even get a chance to do the indoor tour next time.

Have you been to Sintra? Where else would you recommend I visit?

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Love and Regards

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