National Palace of Queluz!

What is this about?

Outside the Palace - August 2016!

The National Palace of Queluz it's an exemplar of Rococo and Neoclassic style, and it was one of the last ones to be built in Europe. It was the holiday house during the Bragança's dynasty, the forth and the only known in the entire Portuguese's Kingdom.

After Palace of Mafra (that is baroque), and the Palace of Ajuda (more urbane style), it was time to build the Palace of Queluz. The village situated in Sintra's district, just outside Lisbon, and it was time to start a new project, a construction of a royal megalomaniac complex, now with other requirements from the epoch - 18th century, the construction started in 1747 - and it was adapted to the new society rules, the society of the Balls and salons.

Inside - August of 2016!

Ordered to built by the King D. Pedro III, and different architectures, Portuguese and not, had the chance to help with it, specially because its construction lasted during more than 200 years. The space is divided in several rooms, and they correspond to different epochs and to different Kings. On the outside, there is a monumental garden, where you can't see its own end, a characteristic of rococo style, with romantic monuments, little boats, and a lot of hidden corners...

The Palace used to be a provisional Kingdom's headquarter because: the fire that took place in the Palace of Ajuda; the King D. João V that escaped to Brasil; and also because of the Napoleon's invasions (beginning of the 14th century).

This is an important space, host of many events, concerts and state formalities, this because it's known as National Heritage since 1910. On the outside, there is also a restaurant called "Cozinha Velha", and you can enjoy some of the traditional plates, mostly hunting meat, that it's a Portuguese tradition.

Throne Rooms - August of 2016

How to arrive?

Coming from Lisbon, you have different options: car or public transports (bus or train). If you rent a car you just need to take the Road IC19, on the way Lisbon-Sintra, and then leave when you see the transit board saying "Queluz-Palácio". For those of you who are coming by public transports, you can take a train at: "Oriente", "Rossio" or "Entrecampos" with final destination "Monte Abraão" or to "Queluz-Belas", that is just 1 kilometre far from visitors' entrance. By bus, you can take the 25, 101 or the 106 from Vimeca.

When to visit?

The Palace can be visited during all year, excepting the 25th of December and the 1st of January. Until 25th of Mark 2017, opening hours are as follows: open at 9 am., and close at 6 pm., and the last entrance at 5 pm.

Outside Façade - August of 2016!

I visited the Palace at the end of the Summer, end of August, during the afternoon, and it was a really pleasant experience, I definitely recommend it. The Palace wasn't full of people, so I could observe every room and every masterpiece calmly. During this time of the year, the gardens are greener and full of life. Nothing like a walk through it, in order to finish the visit.

The sunset in here is fantastic, and during the Summer nights, the staff usually organise some night concerts of classic music. On the Palace's Website, in the lateral left bar you can check their Cultural Schedule.

How much is it?

To visit the Palace is not cheap, but don't panic: you have discounts, and it's cheaper during some specific time schedules. To visit the Palace + Gardens, an adult pays 8. 50 euros (age rate between 18 and 64 years old), and a child, an adolescent or a senior pay 7 euros. On the other hand buying the tickets online, you can get a 5% discount.

Sculptural detail in the Garden - August of 2016!

Final Considerations:

I really enjoyed visiting the place. I would recommend it to everyone, because it's a beautiful place, in a perfect harmony with nature. I specially like the gardens and the artificial channel built in its lateral, right next to the tea's pavilion, that was where the Royal family used to simulate a boat ride.

Pay attention to every detail, the rooms have information, and also there are some interactive monitors, in some places, where you can known more about the history, or about some particular element that caught your attention.

The space is accessible to people with reduced mobility, there are bathrooms, coffee shops and bars to the visitors, everything with a view to the garden.

A little pearl from a just few miles from Lisbon!