Parque da Pena, Park in Sintra, Portugal
Parque da Pena is a large forested park surrounding the Pena Palace on the hills of Sintra, Portugal. Its paths wind through dense woodland past boulders, small lakes, and viewpoints that open up over the surrounding hills and coast.
The park was laid out in the 19th century on the orders of King Ferdinand II, who wanted to shape the forest around the palace. He had trees brought from around the world planted across the hillsides to create a deliberately wild-looking landscape.
The park contains several named spots, each with its own character, such as the Feteira da Condessa, a shaded fern garden with small streams and ponds. The Chalet da Condessa d'Edla, a small alpine-style house decorated with regional cork on the outside, shows how nature and architecture were woven together here.
The park is very large and sturdy footwear is recommended, as many paths are steep or rocky. Those with more time can take the longer walking route, which covers considerably more ground than the shorter loop and can take a few hours to complete.
Although the palace sits high on a rock, it can barely be seen from within the park because the trees block the view. The best place to spot it is at Alto do Chá, a windy hill at the edge of the park where the trees open up and the full shape of the palace comes into view.
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