Pena Palace, Queluz Palace, the Palace of Esti, Mafra Palace, Buaco Palace, the National Palace of Ajuda, and Vila Viosa Palace are perfect examples of royal architecture. As a primary residence or a summer home, these palaces have witnessed the passage of time and reflect different architectural styles. From Baroque to Manueline and Renaissance architecture, you will find unique features at each site.1. Pena PalacePhotograph of Palcio da Pena, by Julia Solonina, 2019. Source: UnsplashPena Palace has been a Portuguese National Monument since 1910 and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995. This iconic landmark is one of the most recognizable monuments in Portugal and the perfect example of 19th-century Portuguese Romantic Revivalism.The history behind this mesmerizing palace begins in the 12th century, with a small chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Pena. Later, in the 16th century, King Manuel I ordered the construction of the Royal Monastery of Our Lady of Pena in the same location.However, the infamous 1755 earthquake left the monastery in shambles. Nevertheless, it continued working until 1834, when the religious orders were extinct in Portugal. In the following decades, the monastery was abandoned and left in ruins.Yet, that all changed when King Consort Fernando II, married to Queen Maria I, arrived in Sintra. Due to his Germanic upbringing, he quickly fell in love with Sintra. As a result, King Fernando II bought the ruins of this impressive monastery and the forest surrounding it with his fortune.Photograph of Palcio da Pena, by Katya De Juan, 2019. Source: UnsplashThe king intended to restore the monastery as a summer residence for the royal family. However, King Fernando II got carried away and decided to build a palace instead. He extended the existing monastery and added new elements such as pathways, watchtowers, and a drawbridge. Today, you can also see a combination of architectural styles ranging from neo-Gothic to neo-Manueline, neo-Islamic, and neo-Renaissance.The palaces opulent decoration reflects the royals preferences. Inside the chapel, you can admire an astounding alabaster marble altarpiece made by Nicolau Chanterenne, one of Mosteiro dos Jernimos architects.After Queen Maria Is death, King Fernando II remarried Elise Hensler, an opera singer, also known as Condessa dElba. Together, they built the Alpine-inspired Chalet da Condessa DElba, close to Palcio da Pena. A few years later, when King Fernando II died, Palcio da Pena became Henslers property. Considering the public controversy surrounding the palaces ownership, Elise Hensler reached an agreement with the Portuguese government, which bought Palcio da Pena.Since the palace was now government property, Portuguese royals occupied the building. King Carlos I and Queen Amlia made Pena Palace their preferred residence.In 1910, the monarchy was abolished and the Portuguese Republic was born. Pena Palace was converted into a museum and received its official name: Palcio Nacional da Pena.2. Vila Viosa PalacePhotograph of Palcio de Vila Viosa, by Alves Gaspar, 2013. Source: Wikimedia CommonsPalcio de Vila Viosa, also known as Pao Ducal, is one of the countrys most famous historical monuments. In 1501, the fourth Duke of Bragana, D. Jaime, ordered the construction of a palace in the small village of Vila Viosa, deep in the heart of Alentejo.For centuries, Palcio de Vila Viosa was the seat of the Serenissima Casa de Bragana, an influential noble family founded in the 15th century, which became the reigning house in Portugal when on December 1, 1640, the 8th Duke of Bragana was acclaimed King of Portugal (D. Joo IV) and began the Bragana Dynasty.The cloister, chapel, and armory were the first areas built. In 1537, D. Teodsio I, the 5th Duke of Bragana, ordered the palace refurbishment to host a royal wedding between his sister D. Isabel and Prince D. Duarte, King Joo IIIs brother. The result is the imposing marble faade we can still admire today.The palace underwent several renovations and improvements until 1640 when the Duke of Bragana became king and took most of its remarkable contents to the Ribeira Palace in Lisbon. From then on, Palcio de became the royal family retreat.Courtyard of the Vila Viosa, photo by Stephan Hoppe. Source: Wikimedia CommonsIn the 18th century, King Joo V refurbished the chapel, kitchen, and new bedroom pavilion. During this campaign of works, King Joo V commissioned Domenico Dupr to paint the series of royal portraits in the Tudescos Room in Vila Viosa between 1727 and 1729.Queen Maria I also made some improvements, adding the body of the dining and Glass rooms. At the end of the 19th century, the old palace was still the subject of some work as a result of King Carlos and Queen Amelias preference. King Carlos was very fond of the palace, spending many seasons here when he and his friends (he rarely brought official guests to Vila Viosa) went hunting in the extensive Royal Hunting Park.After the proclamation of the Republic in 1910, the Palace of Vila Viosa, as well as all the assets of the House of Bragana, remained in the possession of King Manuel II, as they were the Kings family assets and the States.In 1933, following King Manuel IIs death and according to his last wishes, the palace became part of the House of Bragana Foundation, which opened its doors to the public as a museum. At that time, the palace also received a large part of the exiled kings furniture, works of art, and a precious library from his London residence.3. Mafra PalacePhotograph of Palcio de Nacional de Mafra, by Pedro, 2016. Source: FlickrPalcio Nacional de Mafra is a breathtaking landmark composed of a Baroque palace and convent with Germanic and Roman influences, a magnificent garden, and the Tapada Nacional de Mafra (Royal Hunting Park). It has 1,200 rooms, more than 4,700 doors and windows, 156 staircases, and 29 courtyards and halls.This mesmerizing palace has been classified as a National Monument since 1907. It has also been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2019. The palace construction inspired the Portuguese writer Jos Saramago, a Nobel Prize winner, to write his iconic Memorial do Convento.The idea behind the magnificent Mafra Palace emerged from a promise from King Joo V. He swore to build the monument if his wife, Queen Maria Ana of Austria, gave him children. In 1711, Princess Maria Barbara was born.Mafra palace, Basilica dome, photo by Miguel Carraa mcmiles. Source: UnsplashThe palace construction began a few years later, in 1717. It was designed by Johann Friedrich Ludwig and employed more than 52,000 workers. This megalomaniac project was funded by Brazilian gold, which the Portuguese ships brought frequently. Although the construction extended until mid-1737, the basilica was consecrated in 1730.The original building was designed as a small convent suited for only 13 friars. However, the monument transformed into an immense building with all the facilities and belongings needed for daily court life and the 300 friars of the Order of St. Francis. During the religious communitys heyday, the convent consumed 120 barrels of wine, 70 barrels of olive oil, and almost 10 tons of rice, per year.The palace and basilica illustrated the monarchys need for political affirmation. They intended to build a reputation among the great European monarchies and the Holy See while showing off Portugals mighty overseas empire and the kings absolute power.Inside the basilica, you can admire several Italian statues, medallions, and a large crucifix with angels in adoration, mostly made of Carrara marble and produced in Rome and Florence.Library, Mafra Palace, photo by Oksana Z. Source: UnsplashThe library is the most important room at Palcio de Mafra: this was a center of knowledge for many intellectual subjects during the Baroque Period.Today, the Library still follows Friar Joo de Santanas organization, which listed the books in 1809. These are arranged hierarchically from the sacred texts, such as Bibles, lives of saints, matters of religion, doctrine, and canon law, to the profane works, such as exact sciences, humanities, liberal arts, history, geography, and law, among others.It also holds a significant number of rare books, Renaissance books of hours, and a collection of Books Prohibited by the Index, kept in the Mafra Library under special papal authorization through the Bull of Benedict XIV of 1745.In 1744, King Joo V decreed the purchase of the land surrounding the palace, which became Tapada Real de Mafra. The king and queen would often visit Mafra Palace during the convent festivities and to celebrate their birthdays.Unfortunately, King Joo V fell severely ill and died in 1750. Soon after, Queen Maria I opened the palace to religious celebrations. Her successor, King Joo VI, settled the court in the palace in 1806. In the following year, the king and royal family left for exile in Brazil after Napoleon Bonapartes invasions.In 1807, the French troops occupied the palace, and a few months later, they were replaced by a small fraction of the English army, which remained there until March 1828. After the Civil War, opposing Liberals and Absolutists, Palcio de Mafra was the preferred location for the royal family from Maria II to Manuel II to escape.At the palaces south turret, King Manuel II, the last Portuguese king, spent his last night in Portugal on October 4th, 1910, before leaving for exile when the Republic was established.4. Queluz PalacePalcio de Queluz. Source: Wikimedia CommonsPalcio de Queluz is an 18th-century palace built as a summer residence for King Pedro de Bragana. It was one of the last Rococo-style buildings constructed in Europe.Construction began in 1747 under the supervision of architect Mateus Vicente de Oliveira. Although it is much smaller, people often refer to it as the Portuguese Versailles. The palace architecture reflects the last extravagant period of Portuguese culture after the discovery of Brazilian gold in 1690. As a result, during the palace construction, many foreign artists and architects were employed to satisfy the desires of the newly enriched aristocracy.When Queen Maria I struggled with a dementia diagnosis, Queluz Palace was her discreet place of confinement, especially after her husband, King Pedro de Bragana, died in 1786.After the fire that destroyed the Ajuda Palace in 1794, the Queluz Palace became the official residence of the Portuguese Prince Regent, the future Joo VI, and his family. The palace underwent refurbishment works to accommodate the court, guards, and servants. Once renovations were complete, Palcio de Queluz became a Courts favorite for leisure activities and watching serenades.The royal family and the court inhabited Palcio de Queluz until 1807 when the royals fled to Brazil following the French Invasion.Palcio de Queluz from its gardens, by Erkan Kirdar. Source: UnsplashIn the following years, the Portuguese Civil War broke out, between brothers Miguel and Pedro IV of Portugal and the First Emperor of Brazil. This conflict ended royal life at Queluz Palace. Miguel, an Absolutist, lived in the palace as king during the bloodiest period of the war.Eventually, Pedro won the war, but because he was ill, he abdicated the Portuguese throne in favor of his young daughter, Maria II. Since his health worsened day by day, this became the kings last address. The Palace of Queluz became forever known as the birthplace and deathbed of Pedro IV.In 1910, Palcio de Queluz was declared a National Monument and was used as a residence for foreign heads of state on official visits to Portugal.5. Esti PalacePhotograph of Palcio de Esti, by Jorge Cardim, 2023. Source: FlickrPalcio de Esti is a unique historical building near Faro, in the Algarve region. It is considered one of the Algarves main monuments due to its architectural and decorative richness, combining Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassical, and Romantic elements.This palace dates back to the 18th century when Marshal Francisco Pereira Coutinho founded an estate inspired by Palcio de Queluz. However, the palace construction only began in the mid-19th century with Fernando de Carvalhal e Vasconcelos, Coutinhos son, who was highly influenced by Palcio da Pena.With the original owners death, the property passed on to Jos Maria Pereira do Carvalhal, Vasconcelos younger brother. Nevertheless, the palace was abandoned until it was purchased by Jos Franciso da Silva in 1890. Construction works quickly resumed and the palace was inaugurated in May 1909. After Silvas death, Palcio de Esti passed through several owners leading to its progressive degradation.In 1973, the palace was declared a Property of Public Interest. However, it was only in the 1980s that the palace underwent refurbishment works. In the 1990s the palace was repurposed as a guesthouse. Today, you can spend the night at this incredible palace.Palcio de Esti, photo by Gabrielle Polita. Source: UnsplashThis stunning landmark presents two distinctive areas: the old manor house and the gardens.The manor house shows several volumes in a U-shaped structure where you can admire Italian Baroque features. Inside are several richly ornamented and furnished rooms decorated in the 18th-century French style. One of the most famous areas of the palace is the chapel, a Louis XV-style interior with a tiled ceiling and painted roof.The gardens are organized in three levels and partially combine areas for agricultural production. The gardens are decorated with exotic trees and baroque sculptures and tiles. The 18th-century nativity scene and the two sculptures of shepherds made of Carrara marble are the most distinctive elements.At the palace gardens, you can also admire two belvederes decorated with paintings, a polychrome set of tiles, and blue and white tile panels.6. Ajuda PalacePhotograph of Palcio de Nacional da Ajuda, by Susana Falco, 2017. Source: FlickrIn 1755, a massive earthquake, followed by a 30-meter-high (98-foot) tsunami, devastated Lisbon and much of the Alentejo and Algarve coastline. Yet, it was the capital that registered the largest death toll and the most damage. One of the damaged buildings was the Pao da Ribeira, the royal palace where King Jos I lived.Due to the kings refusal to live in masonry and stone buildings following the earthquake, Italian architect Giovanni Carlo Galli da Bibbiena designed the Royal Shack. This was the nickname common people granted to the royal palace made of wood.Unfortunately, due to a fire, the wooden palace was destroyed in 1794. The following year, construction work began to build what became known as Palcio Nacional da Ajuda.Architect Manuel Caetano de Sousa designed the original Baroque project in 1795. A few years later, the new Neoclassical style was in fashion. Prince Joo, who would become King Joo VI, ordered a new project for architects Francisco Xavier Fabri and Jos da Costa e Silva. As a result, the new designs incorporated the original works.The palaces construction extended for 200 years. The French invasion, King Joo VIs escape to Brazil in 1808, and a lack of funds all contributed to such a long construction period.View of the Winter Garden. Source: IPPARThe Ajuda Palace was inhabited for short periods since kings and queens preferred other royal palaces such as Palcio de So Bento, which today holds the Portuguese Parliament.In 1862, Queen Maria Pia de Saboia ordered the palace redecoration. The layout and room decoration were designed by architect Joaquim Possidnio da Silva and followed the new standards of comfort and hygiene characteristic of the second half of the 19th century.Palcio Nacional da Ajuda was the birthplace of Princes Carlos and Afonso and the location where the Council of State met and court ceremonies were held.In 1910, when the Republic was established and the royal family went into exile, the palace was closed. It opened to the public as a museum in 1968. Since then, the palace has retained the typical 19th-century layout and room decoration.7. Buaco PalacePhotograph of Palcio do Buaco, by A. J. Brando, 2017. Source: FlickrDeep in the heart of Buaco National Forest, Palcio do Buaco was built in 1885 for the last Portuguese kings. However, its history begins in the 17th century with the Order of the Discalced Carmelites.A group of hermit monks settled in Buaco to live in contemplation and isolation. During their stay, the monks planted the immense forest you see today with plant species from all over the world. They also built several hiking paths through beautiful fountains, hermit chapels, and breathtaking viewpoints.Amidst Buaco Forest, you can admire the Via Sacra and the Santa Cruz Convent, which helped Buaco become an icon for the Christian faith in Portugal.In the 19th century, King Carlos I, who had always enjoyed this astounding location, gathered the best architects and built this magnificent palace. Italian architect Luigi Manini was in charge of the project design.However, other renowned architects, such as Nicola Bigaglia, Manuel Joaquin Norte Jnior, and Jos Alexandre Soares, also contributed to this masterpiece. The result is a neo-Manueline building with Gothic and Renaissance influences.Palcio do Buaco. Source: Wikimedia CommonsThe building shows profiles of Belm Tower carved in Ana stone, motifs from Jernimos Monasterys cloister, and a few elements from the Convent of Christ.Today, the palace is a luxury boutique hotel where you can still admire the lavish decoration. Here, you can see the incredible works of the great Portuguese masters. Among them, you can find a collection of tile panels by Jorge Colao evoking the Os Lusadas, by Lus de Cames, and the Peninsular War, frescoes by Antnio Ramalho and paintings by Carlos Reis.The intricate furniture includes Portuguese, Indo-Portuguese, and Chinese pieces, enhanced by beautiful tapestries. Also noteworthy are the Moorish ceiling, the remarkable flooring made from exotic woods, and the royal gallery.Palcio do Buaco was classified as a Property of Public Interest in 1996 and declared a National Monument in 2018.