In September 2005 I had the opportunity to travel to a place in Europe that many Americans don’t visit, as it is off the beaten path for those doing the European tour. Three friends went with me to the small country of Portugal. As one looks at this country of five million people, it is difficult to imagine that five hundred years ago it was a colonial powerhouse controlling territory from Brazil to Mozambique and other points in between.
If one travels north from Lisbon to Sintra, one can see the faded glory of the trappings of wealth and power wrapped in disneyesque castles and palaces now fit for the vacationers and tourists who visit there. The Pena Palace has a commanding position at the top of the town, guarding the inhabitants below and serving as a lookout point over the valley beyond.
I was fascinated by the idea of visiting this palace because of the hodgepodge of architectural styles that comprised this mammoth structure. Neo-Gothic, Neo-Manueline, Islamic and Neo-Renaissance architecture drapes this royal residence.
In brief, the palace dates to the Middle Ages when a chapel was built for Our Lady of Pena. In the 16th century, a monastery was built there housing up to 18 monks. Severe fire damage and the great Lisbon earthquake severely damaged the structures and much was reduced to rubble until Prince Ferdinand acquired it in 1838 and decided he wanted to construct a summer home for the Portuguese royal family. Construction was completed by 1854, and the royal family dwelled in the palace until the revolution of 1910 when the country declared the palace a national monument.
The pictures on this page, all taken during my trip in 2005, provide a modest glimpse into the opulence of life, structure and view of this storied chateau on the hill.
Royalty Meets Disney
Posted: July 1, 2012 by Chuck DeShazo
