Pena Palace, Queluz Palace, the Palace of Estói, Mafra Palace, Buçaco Palace, the National Palace of Ajuda, and Vila Viçosa Palace are perfect examples of royal architecture. As a primary residence or a summer home, these palaces have witnessed the passage of time and reflect different architectural styles. From Baroque to Manueline and Renaissance architecture, you will find unique features at each site.
1. Pena Palace
Pena Palace has been a Portuguese National Monument since 1910 and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995. This iconic landmark is one of the most recognizable monuments in Portugal and the perfect example of 19th-century Portuguese Romantic Revivalism.
The history behind this mesmerizing palace begins in the 12th century, with a small chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Pena. Later, in the 16th century, King Manuel I ordered the construction of the Royal Monastery of Our Lady of Pena in the same location.
However, the infamous 1755 earthquake left the monastery in shambles. Nevertheless, it continued working until 1834, when the religious orders were extinct in Portugal. In the following decades, the monastery was abandoned and left in ruins.
Yet, that all changed when King Consort Fernando II, married to Queen Maria I, arrived in Sintra. Due to his Germanic upbringing, he quickly fell in love with Sintra. As a result, King Fernando II bought the ruins of this impressive monastery and the forest surrounding it with his fortune.
The king intended to restore the monastery as a summer residence for the royal family. However, King Fernando II got carried away and decided to build a palace instead. He extended the existing monastery and added new elements such as pathways, watchtowers, and a drawbridge. Today, you can also see a combination of architectural styles ranging from neo-Gothic to neo-Manueline, neo-Islamic, and neo-Renaissance.
The palace’s opulent decoration reflects the royals’ preferences. Inside the chapel, you can admire an astounding alabaster marble altarpiece made by Nicolau Chanterenne, one of Mosteiro dos Jerónimos architects.
After Queen Maria I’s death, King Fernando II remarried Elise Hensler, an opera singer, also known as Condessa d’Elba. Together, they built the Alpine-inspired Chalet da Condessa D’Elba, close to Palácio da Pena. A few years later, when King Fernando II died, Palácio da Pena became Hensler’s property. Considering the public controversy surrounding the palace’s ownership, Elise Hensler reached an agreement with the Portuguese government, which bought Palácio da Pena.
Since the palace was now government property, Portuguese royals occupied the building. King Carlos I and Queen Amélia made Pena Palace their preferred residence.
In 1910, the monarchy was abolished and the Portuguese Republic was born. Pena Palace was converted into a museum and received its official name: Palácio Nacional da Pena.
2. Vila Viçosa Palace
Palácio de Vila Viçosa, also known as Paço Ducal, is one of the country’s most famous historical monuments. In 1501, the fourth Duke of Bragança, D. Jaime, ordered the construction of a palace in the small village of Vila Viçosa, deep in the heart of Alentejo.
For centuries, Palácio de Vila Viçosa was the seat of the Serenissima Casa de Bragança, an influential noble family founded in the 15th century, which became the reigning house in Portugal when on December 1, 1640, the 8th Duke of Bragança was acclaimed King of Portugal (D. João IV) and began the Bragança Dynasty.
The cloister, chapel, and armory were the first areas built. In 1537, D. Teodósio I, the 5th Duke of Bragança, ordered the palace refurbishment to host a royal wedding between his sister D. Isabel and Prince D. Duarte, King João III’s brother. The result is the imposing marble façade we can still admire today.
The palace underwent several renovations and improvements until 1640 when the Duke of Bragança became king and took most of its remarkable contents to the Ribeira Palace in Lisbon. From then on, Palácio de became the royal family retreat.
In the 18th century, King João V refurbished the chapel, kitchen, and new bedroom pavilion. During this campaign of works, King João V commissioned Domenico Duprà to paint the series of royal portraits in the Tudescos Room in Vila Viçosa between 1727 and 1729.
Queen Maria I also made some improvements, adding the body of the dining and Glass rooms. At the end of the 19th century, the old palace was still the subject of some work as a result of King Carlos and Queen Amelia’s preference. King Carlos was very fond of the palace, spending many seasons here when he and his friends (he rarely brought official guests to Vila Viçosa) went hunting in the extensive Royal Hunting Park.
After the proclamation of the Republic in 1910, the Palace of Vila Viçosa, as well as all the assets of the House of Bragança, remained in the possession of King Manuel II, as they were the King’s family assets and the State’s.
In 1933, following King Manuel II’s death and according to his last wishes, the palace became part of the House of Bragança Foundation, which opened its doors to the public as a museum. At that time, the palace also received a large part of the exiled king’s furniture, works of art, and a precious library from his London residence.
3. Mafra Palace
Palácio Nacional de Mafra is a breathtaking landmark composed of a Baroque palace and convent with Germanic and Roman influences, a magnificent garden, and the Tapada Nacional de Mafra (Royal Hunting Park). It has 1,200 rooms, more than 4,700 doors and windows, 156 staircases, and 29 courtyards and halls.
This mesmerizing palace has been classified as a National Monument since 1907. It has also been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2019. The palace construction inspired the Portuguese writer José Saramago, a Nobel Prize winner, to write his iconic Memorial do Convento.
The idea behind the magnificent Mafra Palace emerged from a promise from King João V. He swore to build the monument if his wife, Queen Maria Ana of Austria, gave him children. In 1711, Princess Maria Barbara was born.
The palace construction began a few years later, in 1717. It was designed by Johann Friedrich Ludwig and employed more than 52,000 workers. This megalomaniac project was funded by Brazilian gold, which the Portuguese ships brought frequently. Although the construction extended until mid-1737, the basilica was consecrated in 1730.
The original building was designed as a small convent suited for only 13 friars. However, the monument transformed into an immense building with all the facilities and belongings needed for daily court life and the 300 friars of the Order of St. Francis. During the religious community’s heyday, the convent consumed 120 barrels of wine, 70 barrels of olive oil, and almost 10 tons of rice, per year.
The palace and basilica illustrated the monarchy’s need for political affirmation. They intended to build a reputation among the great European monarchies and the Holy See while showing off Portugal’s mighty overseas empire and the king’s absolute power.
Inside the basilica, you can admire several Italian statues, medallions, and a large crucifix with angels in adoration, mostly made of Carrara marble and produced in Rome and Florence.
The library is the most important room at Palácio de Mafra: this was a center of knowledge for many intellectual subjects during the Baroque Period.
Today, the Library still follows Friar João de Santana’s organization, which listed the books in 1809. These are arranged hierarchically from the sacred texts, such as Bibles, lives of saints, matters of religion, doctrine, and canon law, to the “profane” works, such as exact sciences, humanities, liberal arts, history, geography, and law, among others.
It also holds a significant number of rare books, Renaissance books of hours, and a collection of “Books Prohibited by the Index,” kept in the Mafra Library under special papal authorization through the Bull of Benedict XIV of 1745.
In 1744, King João V decreed the purchase of the land surrounding the palace, which became Tapada Real de Mafra. The king and queen would often visit Mafra Palace during the convent festivities and to celebrate their birthdays.
Unfortunately, King João V fell severely ill and died in 1750. Soon after, Queen Maria I opened the palace to religious celebrations. Her successor, King João VI, settled the court in the palace in 1806. In the following year, the king and royal family left for exile in Brazil after Napoleon Bonaparte‘s invasions.
In 1807, the French troops occupied the palace, and a few months later, they were replaced by a small fraction of the English army, which remained there until March 1828. After the Civil War, opposing Liberals and Absolutists, Palácio de Mafra was the preferred location for the royal family from Maria II to Manuel II to escape.
At the palace’s south turret, King Manuel II, the last Portuguese king, spent his last night in Portugal on October 4th, 1910, before leaving for exile when the Republic was established.
4. Queluz Palace
Palácio de Queluz is an 18th-century palace built as a summer residence for King Pedro de Bragança. It was one of the last Rococo-style buildings constructed in Europe.
Construction began in 1747 under the supervision of architect Mateus Vicente de Oliveira. Although it is much smaller, people often refer to it as the “Portuguese Versailles.” The palace architecture reflects the last extravagant period of Portuguese culture after the discovery of Brazilian gold in 1690. As a result, during the palace construction, many foreign artists and architects were employed to satisfy the desires of the newly enriched aristocracy.
When Queen Maria I struggled with a dementia diagnosis, Queluz Palace was her discreet place of confinement, especially after her husband, King Pedro de Bragança, died in 1786.
After the fire that destroyed the Ajuda Palace in 1794, the Queluz Palace became the official residence of the Portuguese Prince Regent, the future João VI, and his family. The palace underwent refurbishment works to accommodate the court, guards, and servants. Once renovations were complete, Palácio de Queluz became a Court’s favorite for leisure activities and watching serenades.
The royal family and the court inhabited Palácio de Queluz until 1807 when the royals fled to Brazil following the French Invasion.
In the following years, the Portuguese Civil War broke out, between brothers Miguel and Pedro IV of Portugal and the First Emperor of Brazil. This conflict ended royal life at Queluz Palace. Miguel, an Absolutist, lived in the palace as king during the bloodiest period of the war.
Eventually, Pedro won the war, but because he was ill, he abdicated the Portuguese throne in favor of his young daughter, Maria II. Since his health worsened day by day, this became the king’s last address. The Palace of Queluz became forever known as the birthplace and deathbed of Pedro IV.
In 1910, Palácio de Queluz was declared a National Monument and was used as a residence for foreign heads of state on official visits to Portugal.
5. Estói Palace
Palácio de Estói is a unique historical building near Faro, in the Algarve region. It is considered one of the Algarve’s main monuments due to its architectural and decorative richness, combining Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassical, and Romantic elements.
This palace dates back to the 18th century when Marshal Francisco Pereira Coutinho founded an estate inspired by Palácio de Queluz. However, the palace construction only began in the mid-19th century with Fernando de Carvalhal e Vasconcelos, Coutinho’s son, who was highly influenced by Palácio da Pena.
With the original owner’s death, the property passed on to José Maria Pereira do Carvalhal, Vasconcelos’ younger brother. Nevertheless, the palace was abandoned until it was purchased by José Franciso da Silva in 1890. Construction works quickly resumed and the palace was inaugurated in May 1909. After Silva’s death, Palácio de Estói passed through several owners leading to its progressive degradation.
In 1973, the palace was declared a Property of Public Interest. However, it was only in the 1980s that the palace underwent refurbishment works. In the 1990s the palace was repurposed as a guesthouse. Today, you can spend the night at this incredible palace.
This stunning landmark presents two distinctive areas: the old manor house and the gardens.
The manor house shows several volumes in a U-shaped structure where you can admire Italian Baroque features. Inside are several richly ornamented and furnished rooms decorated in the 18th-century French style. One of the most famous areas of the palace is the chapel, a Louis XV-style interior with a tiled ceiling and painted roof.
The gardens are organized in three levels and partially combine areas for agricultural production. The gardens are decorated with exotic trees and baroque sculptures and tiles. The 18th-century nativity scene and the two sculptures of shepherds made of Carrara marble are the most distinctive elements.
At the palace gardens, you can also admire two belvederes decorated with paintings, a polychrome set of tiles, and blue and white tile panels.
6. Ajuda Palace
In 1755, a massive earthquake, followed by a 30-meter-high (98-foot) tsunami, devastated Lisbon and much of the Alentejo and Algarve coastline. Yet, it was the capital that registered the largest death toll and the most damage. One of the damaged buildings was the Paço da Ribeira, the royal palace where King José I lived.
Due to the king’s refusal to live in masonry and stone buildings following the earthquake, Italian architect Giovanni Carlo Galli da Bibbiena designed the “Royal Shack.” This was the nickname common people granted to the royal palace made of wood.
Unfortunately, due to a fire, the wooden palace was destroyed in 1794. The following year, construction work began to build what became known as Palácio Nacional da Ajuda.
Architect Manuel Caetano de Sousa designed the original Baroque project in 1795. A few years later, the new Neoclassical style was in fashion. Prince João, who would become King João VI, ordered a new project for architects Francisco Xavier Fabri and José da Costa e Silva. As a result, the new designs incorporated the original works.
The palace’s construction extended for 200 years. The French invasion, King João VI’s escape to Brazil in 1808, and a lack of funds all contributed to such a long construction period.
The Ajuda Palace was inhabited for short periods since kings and queens preferred other royal palaces such as Palácio de São Bento, which today holds the Portuguese Parliament.
In 1862, Queen Maria Pia de Saboia ordered the palace redecoration. The layout and room decoration were designed by architect Joaquim Possidónio da Silva and followed the new standards of comfort and hygiene characteristic of the second half of the 19th century.
Palácio Nacional da Ajuda was the birthplace of Princes Carlos and Afonso and the location where the Council of State met and court ceremonies were held.
In 1910, when the Republic was established and the royal family went into exile, the palace was closed. It opened to the public as a museum in 1968. Since then, the palace has retained the typical 19th-century layout and room decoration.
7. Buçaco Palace
Deep in the heart of Buçaco National Forest, Palácio do Buçaco was built in 1885 for the last Portuguese kings. However, its history begins in the 17th century with the Order of the Discalced Carmelites.
A group of hermit monks settled in Buçaco to live in contemplation and isolation. During their stay, the monks planted the immense forest you see today with plant species from all over the world. They also built several hiking paths through beautiful fountains, hermit chapels, and breathtaking viewpoints.
Amidst Buçaco Forest, you can admire the Via Sacra and the Santa Cruz Convent, which helped Buçaco become an icon for the Christian faith in Portugal.
In the 19th century, King Carlos I, who had always enjoyed this astounding location, gathered the best architects and built this magnificent palace. Italian architect Luigi Manini was in charge of the project design.
However, other renowned architects, such as Nicola Bigaglia, Manuel Joaquin Norte Júnior, and José Alexandre Soares, also contributed to this masterpiece. The result is a neo-Manueline building with Gothic and Renaissance influences.
The building shows profiles of Belém Tower carved in Ança stone, motifs from Jerónimos Monastery’s cloister, and a few elements from the Convent of Christ.
Today, the palace is a luxury boutique hotel where you can still admire the lavish decoration. Here, you can see the incredible works of the great Portuguese masters. Among them, you can find a collection of tile panels by Jorge Colaço evoking the Os Lusíadas, by Luís de Camões, and the Peninsular War, frescoes by António Ramalho and paintings by Carlos Reis.
The intricate furniture includes Portuguese, Indo-Portuguese, and Chinese pieces, enhanced by beautiful tapestries. Also noteworthy are the Moorish ceiling, the remarkable flooring made from exotic woods, and the royal gallery.
Palácio do Buçaco was classified as a Property of Public Interest in 1996 and declared a National Monument in 2018.
