Palace above the clouds, Sintra Pena National Palace

#EuropeTravel

#Portugal
#Lisbjörn
#Sintra
#Pena National Palace

A Palace Above the Clouds, Sintra, Pena National Palace

The bus to Sintra wound its way through the dizzying mountain roads. As if performing acrobatics, it climbed the cliffs, and the scenery outside the window seemed to blur the lines between reality and dreams.

We arrived at the Pena National Palace (Palácio Nacional da Pena), a castle built on a rock—or rather, the rock itself seemed to be a castle.

The morning air was chilly, and clouds hung over the mountain. At times, they completely obscured the castle, and at other times, they cleared to reveal dazzling colors.

The yellow and red walls were surreal, like a palace from a children's storybook.

The Pena National Palace, built by Ferdinand II of Portugal in the mid-19th century, is a symbol of Romantic architecture.

Gothic, Renaissance and Islamic styles blend seamlessly, harmonizing different eras and cultures within a single building.

At first glance, it appears complex and ornate, but upon closer inspection, a tranquil space permeates the building.

Unfortunately, due to electrical work, the interior was unavailable for viewing today.
Photography was also not permitted, so I couldn't capture the splendid interior in photos.

However, this allowed me to fully focus on the castle's exterior walls and the surrounding landscape.

As the clouds drifted, covering and revealing the castle's outline, it felt as if a curtain of time were rising and falling.

It was astonishing that humans could build such a castle on rock. It wasn't simply a symbol of power, but a human desire to build art upon nature.

I couldn't see the palace's interior, but its spirit was palpable even amidst the clouds.

On the way down the mountain, I looked up at the palace from afar, still enveloped in clouds. That image still lingers in my mind.

(2025.10.26)