Monserrate Palace Palace

Address: Parque de Monserrate, Sintra, Lisbon District, Portugal

Monserrate Palace (Palácio de Monserrate) is a 19th-century Romantic palace and estate in the hills near Sintra, Portugal, noted for its eclectic architecture blending Gothic, Moorish and exotic motifs and for its landscaped botanical gardens. The site is valued for both its decorative palace and its planted grounds.

The palace building was substantially rebuilt in the mid-19th century for an English patron and features ornate façades, decorative tilework and richly appointed interiors. The surrounding gardens contain terraces, ponds, shaded walks and collections of exotic trees and shrubs introduced during the 19th century.

Monserrate’s gardens were designed to showcase plants from different climatic regions and include a sequence of themed areas and viewpoints across the rolling, wooded slope. The estate has been restored and conserved to retain its historic layouts and plantings for public visitation.

The palace and gardens sit within the Sintra hills, a short drive south of central Sintra town and within the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park and Sintra Cultural Landscape UNESCO area.

• UNESCO designation: Part of the Sintra Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and frequently visited together with other Sintra estates.
• Visitor tips: The palace visible from various viewpoints in the Sintra hills; the gardens contain paths and small follies that are popular for walking and photography.

What to See#

• Palace: The main 19th-century palace building, rebuilt in the mid-1800s in Moorish and Romantic styles and notable for its decorative façades and interior decoration.
• Gardens and park: Extensive botanical gardens and parkland laid out around the house, containing exotic and subtropical plantings introduced during the 19th century.

Monserrate is in the Sintra hills, about 30 km northwest of central Lisbon. From Sintra town centre take the local 434 tourist bus which stops at many palaces, or drive up the winding access road (parking at the estate is limited during peak season).

• Combine Monserrate Palace with the other Sintra palaces on the 434 bus or by a short drive; Monserrate is visually distinct with its Moorish-inspired gardens.
• Allow time to stroll the exotic plantings and inspect the interior woodwork and stencilled ceilings.
• Arrive mid-afternoon for softer light on the palace façades and fewer tour buses than late morning.