It is said that only seven of them are the lucky ones. But, to my mind, there are more. Much more. And a palace in a little town counts among the 7 cultural wonders of Portugal, it is inspired a bit by the traditionalism of Bavaria, the charm of the Loire Valley and the Spanish tenacity, it is a little town, with thick forests, hills and mountains, and little houses which seem to have been painted, but also… fairytale-like castles. Its name is Sintra and I confess it`s the perfect escapade in a décor of gardens that make you dream, by an ocean whose energy banishes your anxieties, with many architectural jewels, UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Palacio da Pena is perhaps the most romantic former monastery ever, a palace built by the king Ferdinand II, on a religious establishment, that belongs to the palace nowadays, too, and which he had actually restored. But the style that the Palacio da Pena  “wears” with pride is a romantic one, of German influence, given by the engineer Baron Wilhelm Ludwig von Eschwege, on the model of the castles of the Rhine Valley. The details are therefore combined, because they have something from the Manueline style, too, Neo-Renaissance but also Neo-Gothic, Moorish arches, and the interior has many frescoes and stuccos, trompe-l`oeil walls and many impressive collections of furniture.
The park is absolutely wonderful, too, and the little villa of the countess Edla over here, a private summer residence is entirely special. Sintra is truly a treasure of Lisbon, along with its fantastic palaces. 

Don't forget to follow me on Bloglovin'!