Designed in the spirit of European Romanticism, the Pena National Palace in Sintra Portugal is a palace that mixes Gothic revival, Neo-Manueline, Islamic and Neo-Renaissance styles. Its origins lie in a medieval chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Pena, where King John II and his wife made a pilgrimage. A monastery was also constructed in the area, but in the 18th century, it was damaged by lighting and later destroyed by the Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755. King consort Ferdinand II was attracted to the ruins and decided to build a palace for the Portuguese royal family in that location. From 1842 to 1854, construction took place under the design and direction of Baron Wilhelm Ludwig von Eschwege, though King Ferdinand and Queen Maria II had creative input and suggested the inclusion of medieval and Islamic elements. After having faded to grey, the palace was repainted its vibrant red and yellow at the end of the 20th century. Pena National Palace is surrounded by Pena Park, 200 hectares of forested area filled with exotic trees from faraway lands.
