Loves Makes Us Do Extraordinary Things -Pena Palace

The Pena Palace, located in the municipality of Sintra, was built by King Ferdinand II for his wife, Queen Maria II, beginning construction in 1842 and completing it in 1847, with further additions made in 1854.  The palace sits atop old monastery ruins.  The King was deeply in love with his wife and hired Wilhelm Ludwig von Eschwege to construct the palace.  Wilhelm is known for the numerous castles he built in Germany.  The style of the castle was greatly influenced by the King and Queen, who drew inspiration from many significant constructions throughout the world, including Gothic architecture and Moorish architecture, thus leading to its unique design.  Today, the castle is considered a UNESCO heritage site and is one of Portugal's Seven Wonders.  The Pena Palace is really stunning, and at 14 Euros, you can see the palace and its grounds.  The Palace sits on top of a very steep hill.  My friend and I took a tuk-tuk ride to the palace entrance, where we purchased tickets.  If you don't mind the walk from there, you will save yourself another 6 euros for the short bus ride to the actual palace itself.  Since we were in a rush, we paid for the ride to the castle. We made a mistake in not leaving more time for this city, as there is really so much more to see, such as the National Palace, the Moorish Ruins, and the Initiation Well.  Sintra, in and of itself, is very unique because King Ferdinand II was a pioneer for diversity in the forest located within the national park.  There are trees from all over the world.  It was also the playground for the wealthy and Royalty.  The town center is charming, with its streets and alleyways lined with delightful cafes, restaurants, and shops. This means I will have to go back.