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Long before the magnificent Pena Palace graced the mountaintop of Sintra, a remarkable tale of apparitions, religious devotion, and spiritual significance unfolded. Legend has it that an apparition of the Virgin Mary occurred on the very site where the palace stands today, leading to the construction of a humble chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Pena. By the order of King João I, the priors of the Church of Santa Maria in Sintra held mass in this small chapel every Saturday.
Royal devotion to this sacred patroness is well-documented. In 1493, King João II and his wife, Queen Leonor, visited the chapel to fulfill a vow made to Our Lady of Pena. However, it was King Manuel I who held a special affection for the site. The significant transformation of the site occurred during the reign of King Manuel I. Once again, the realms of legend and historical fact intersect. According to tradition, it is said that King Manuel I, while hunting in that very spot of the Serra de Sintra, witnessed the arrival of Vasco da Gama's fleet from India after their second voyage.
Under his command, in 1503, significant earthworks were carried out, and a wooden convent was constructed adjacent to the chapel for the Order of Saint Jerome. As a gesture of gratitude for the successful voyage, King Manuel I later replaced the wooden structure with a stone edifice, completed in 1511, known as the Monastery of Nossa Senhora da Pena. The transformed convent became a religious haven for 18 monks, complete with a chapel, sacristy, cloister, dormitory, workshops, and a bell tower, following the design by the Italian architect João Potassi.
The devotion to Our Lady of Pena extended beyond King Manuel I. Both King João III and Queen Catarina expressed their fervent devotion by commissioning a magnificent altarpiece made of jasper and alabaster in 1532. This masterpiece adorned the main altar of the chapel, fulfilling a promise made upon the birth of their son, Prince Manuel.
One of the earliest paintings of the Monastery at Pena in Sintra (Year unknown)
In 1755, the monastery suffered significant damage due to the earthquake and was reduced to housing only five monks. The monastery's decline accelerated after the 1755 earthquake, rendering the site practically uninhabitable and beyond repair. The exact moment of the monastery's definitive abandonment remains unknown. In 1834, as part of the general ecclesiastical reform implemented by Minister and Secretary of State Joaquim António de Aguiar, all convents, monasteries, colleges, and religious houses of all orders were abolished. The remaining religious houses for women were placed under the jurisdiction of their respective bishops until the last nun's death, marking their final closure.
In that same year, D. Pedro IV ordered the inventory of the monastery's assets, and the furniture was auctioned on September 7. For approximately four years, the monastery remained impoverished and deserted.
In November 1838, the Convent of Nossa Senhora da Pena was included in the sale of national assets by the Public Credit Board. On November 6, D. Fernando II, husband of Queen D. Maria II, paid the stipulated amount and acquired the property. Restoration work on the former monastery began in 1838, primarily focusing on improving access for the royal family and other visitors. The Sintra Municipal Council also expressed its concern for the preservation and partial opening of the Monastery of Nossa Senhora da Pena, as well as the surrounding area, including the newly acquired ruins of the Moorish Castle, allowing both national and foreign visitors to easily access these remarkable sites.
Pena Palace under Construction - Year 1840
The Pena Palace, as we know it today, stands as a testament to the enduring spiritual significance and regal devotion that permeated its history. Its architecture, a fusion of Romanticism, Moorish influences, and Manueline style, reflects the deep-rooted connection between the earthly and the divine. There is a connection between the Palace, it's origins and the mystical place of Sintra (read here about the origins of the name "Sintra")
Beyond its physical beauty, the Pena Palace exudes an intangible aura that transports visitors to a realm of enchantment and spiritual contemplation. As one wanders through its ornate halls and meticulously crafted rooms, a sense of awe and reverence fills the air. The palace's location atop the sacred mountain of Sintra, where apparitions were said to have occurred, adds to its ethereal ambiance.
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