Monserrate Palace

A masterpiece of Romanticism

A retreat for writers, Monserrate attracted numerous international visitors, especially among the British, who praised its beauty in their travel accounts and engravings. When Francis Cook, a rich, 19th century British industrialist and a great art collector, visited here, he was fascinated. From this passion there emerged a masterpiece of Romanticism: the Park and Palace of Monserrate.

Francis Cook put his dream into practice in transforming Monserrate into what we know today, with its exuberant gardens – capable of amazing visitors with the exotic species sourced from every corner of the world, and a palace that represents a true ode to romantic architecture, the refined taste of Francis Cook and the genius of its architect James Knowles Jr., who combined various different influences here.

However, Monserrate Palace hides many different pasts that always exalt its natural beauty. In 1793, the British writer William Beckford became the new tenant of Monserrate. Subsequently, he commissioned restoration and improvement works on the building and its immense surrounding gardens. The site was again doomed to abandonment in 1799 when the writer moved out of the property. His rental contract was only to terminate eight years later.

 Even in a state of decline, the site still attracted many foreign visitors, especially among the British. One such example was Lord Byron, the renowned poet who holds such an indelible link with the Romantic movement, who expressed his love for Monserrate in the poem "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage”.

Representing one of the most notable Romanticism inspired landscapes in Portugal, the Park of Monserrate has received species from all around the world, which were structured into geographic areas to reflect the diverse origins of the plants and establish differing scenarios along the pathways running between the ruins, lakes and waterfalls.

Sintra can get very busy with tourists and for good reason, it truly is a world class destination. But to save a lot of time you need to book your tickets before you get there and avoid unnecessary queuing.

45 minutes from Lisbon by train.

Monserrate Palace Sintra is located Here