Posted on by David

9-16-17 Palaces of Portugal

Saturday was an excursion to two different places – the Palace of Queluz and the Palace of Sintar. First stop was the Palace of Queluz.

This was one of the last great Rococo buildings to be designed in Europe, the palace was conceived as a summer retreat for Dom Pedro of Bragaza,  later to become husband and then king consort  to his own niece, Queen Maria I.

Work on the palace began in 1747 and was used for a number of years but after 1826 it slowly fell from favor. In 1908 it became property of the state. Over the years it has had fires, earthquake damage and lack of maintenance. Recently there has been a series of restorations undertaken to return it to its original condition.

This was the public entrance side of the Palace of Queluz.

We entered from the “public” side of the building, the not so formal face that is presented to the City and toured a number of different rooms. Our guide, Isabel (part of the UniWorld crew) gave great information about the furniture, designs of the rooms and historical events that occurred in the spaces.

The Ballroom at Queluz
The private alter in the Capela at Queluz
Queluz Empire Bedroom
Queluz King’s Bedroom
Princess Maria room
Princess Maria rooms
Queluz Queen’s Boudoir
Queluz – The Sala de Mangas decorated with tile panels illustrating the wealth of Portugal’s colonies
Janeen checking out the decorations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Music Room. Portrait of Maria I hangs above the piano
Torch room

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lovely garden but only about 1/3 of what was there. The rest is under renovation.

After the interior tour we went through the gardens (always a highlight for Janeen) and back to the bus for our next Palace.

Janeen liked this statue
Live Monkey’s were around the garden and memorialized in the garden fountains
Neptune fountain
Bacchus in the garden
The guide book for Sintra

The Palace of Sintra is not as opulent as the Palace of Queluz and is the best preserved of the medieval royal residences in Portugal. It was occupied from the early 15th century to the late 19th century.

Sintra Palace – with two chimmey stacks from the kitchens
Ivory inlay writing desk
Outside in the one of the courtyards at Sintra
Janeen listening to our guide
Janeen outside in the courtyard at Sintra
Ceiling of the King’s audience room with crests from various families
King’s room – called the Magpie room for all the decorations on the ceilng.
Large fires would be made in the middle of the room for cooking large game
The main kitchen of Sintra open fires would be paced under the areas
Nice tapestry on the wall

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After we were finished up touring the Palace of Sintra, we headed towards the coast and to the small town called Cascais. This resort focused town had lots of new homes as well as well kept places of some substance. However, as it was getting closer to 2 in the afternoon, my particular goal was lunch.

Lunch menu – nice place to stop for a bite.
Lunch with great fish and sparkling sangra.
Curry and rice.
An Omelette for Jerry
Pouring the Sangria
Shellfish and rice in the pot!
Shellfish and rice on the plate
Us leaving the restaurant
Janeen outside of a cork shop – lots of goodies made from cork.

After lunch, back to the bus and our hotel.