Monserrate Palace - the eclectic monument that embraces influences of the Middle Ages and the East
Actual vignette of the 'Thousand and One Nights' - a vision of fairy tales.
Hans Christian Andersen
The Monserrate Palace is one of the most eclectic monuments of the nineteenth century that you can visit in Sintra, it contains medieval and oriental influences. Exotic and plant motifs of its interior extending to the outside, making the Monserrate Park one of the richest Portuguese botanical gardens and the most beautiful romantic gardens of Europe.
This monument was built by Sir Francis Cook, Viscount Monserrate in 1858. The writer William Beckford, the richest young Englishman of his time, rented the property in 1793, performing few construction works in the palace and began to create the landscaped garden you know today. These gardens are designed to take advantage of the microclimate characteristics of the Sintra hills, containing thus more than 3000 exotic species, currently spread over the various landscapes, including a rose garden, Mexican and Japanese gardens.
The entrance to the palace is through an octagonal hall of pointed arches and marble columns. From there, visitors can tour the rooms, including the library, the chapel, the music room and the billiard room, decorated with beautiful details, both on the walls and ceilings.
The Park and the Monserrate Palace were classified as Public Interest Property in 1975 and in 1995 ,and were integrated into the Cultural Landscape of Sintra, classified as World Heritage by UNESCO. In 2013 Monserrate Park was awarded a European Garden Award for "Best Development of Historic Parks or Gardens".
Address: Rua Visconde de Monserrate, 2710-405 Sintra
Phone: +351 21 923 7300
Schedules:
Park
09h30 - 20h00, 19h00 last ticket
Palace
09h30 - 19h00, 18h15 last ticket