Description of the attraction
The Royal Palace in Sintra is immediately recognizable by its two ancient conical chimneys. The main part of the palace was built under King Joan I at the end of the 14th century on the site of the former residence of the Arab rulers. The palace became the summer residence of the Portuguese monarchs for a long time. King Manuel I slightly rebuilt the palace in the Moorish style. In 1910, the palace was declared a national monument.
The interior of the palace looks rather modest, but the tiles made in Seville in the 15th-16th centuries serve as a wonderful decoration. The Arabian influence is evident in the carved wooden ceilings, especially in the chapel, where you can also admire the unique ceramic floor of the 15th century.
The dome of the Hall of Arms is decorated with picturesque deer holding the coats of arms of 74 noble Portuguese families. The ceiling of the banquet hall is decorated with many swans, and the Hall of Forty gets its name from the many of these birds painted on the ceiling panels.
