Sintra National Palace
On Gingerguide's self-guided Sintra audio tour, Sintra National Palace is a stop worth about ~90 min. Stand in front of it, press play for a short narrated story, and put any follow-up question to the built-in AI guide.
- Type palace
- Suggested visit ~90 min
- Sintra Sintra guide
About Sintra National Palace
The medieval royal palace at the heart of Sintra town, recognisable by its twin conical chimneys, the oldest surviving royal palace in Portugal, with centuries of royal history and extraordinary Manueline and Mudéjar interior decoration.
The Palácio Nacional de Sintra is the most architecturally layered building in Sintra, a palace that grew and changed across six centuries of royal occupation, from the 14th century through to the early 20th. Its two distinctive conical chimneys, visible from across the town and the surrounding hills, are the defining feature of Sintra's skyline. The building began as a Moorish summer palace, was transformed into a royal residence by King João I in the early 15th century, and was continuously modified and expanded by successive monarchs. The interior is extraordinary: the Sala dos Brasões (Hall of Coats of Arms) has a domed ceiling decorated with the arms of 72 noble families; the Sala das Pegas (Magpie Room) is painted with 136 magpies; the Sala dos Cisnes (Swan Room) has a painted ceiling of 27 swans; and throughout the palace, panels of Mudéjar and Manueline azulejo tiles of great beauty cover the walls. The palace remained a royal residence until the early 20th century.
Did you know? The Sala das Pegas (Magpie Room) is painted with 136 magpies, each carrying a rose and the words 'por bem', King João I had the room decorated after his queen caught him kissing a lady-in-waiting, to pre-empt gossip at court.
How much time do you need at Sintra National Palace?
Around ~90 min works well for Sintra National Palace — time to look properly and listen to its story on the spot. Linger if you like; nothing on a self-guided walk is on a clock.
Should you stop at Sintra National Palace?
Yes — Sintra National Palace made the cut as one of 15 places the Gingerguide team researched and narrated across Sintra. The story tells you why it is worth the stop, and the AI guide fills in anything you still wonder.
Nearby stops in Sintra
Hear the story of Sintra National Palace
Preview the Sintra tour free in the Gingerguide app.