The Palácio Nacional de Sintra, recognisable from the historic centre by its two enormous conical chimneys, is the best-preserved medieval royal palace in Portugal and was in continuous use by the Portuguese royal family from the 14th century until 1910.
Its interior rooms are covered floor to ceiling in some of the country’s finest azulejo tilework, including the Swan Room and the Magpie Room, each named for the painted ceilings above them.
Unlike Pena Palace or Quinta da Regaleira, it sits directly in the historic centre, so it’s the easiest of Sintra’s ticketed palaces to combine with a walk down Rua das Padarias.
Local tip: Look up in every room — the ceiling paintings are as much the point of a visit here as the furniture and tilework at eye level.
Good to know
- Where: Largo Rainha Dona Amélia, 2710-616 Sintra, Portugal
- City: Sintra