The 7 Wonders of Portugal

Pena Palace (Palácio da Pena)

This whimsical 19th-century palace with its colourful array of domes and turrets is a fantastical expression of 19th-century Romanticism. Its history dates back to the 12th century when a medieval chapel occupied the hilltop site where the palace now stands. A monastery later followed, founded in 1503. Though heavily damaged by the earthquake of 1755, the monastery remained active until the abolition of religious orders in Portugal in 1834.

A few years later, Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, the artist husband of Queen Maria II, purchased the ruined monastery and surrounding lands and commissioned this unique palace as a summer residence for the royal family. He also designed the surrounding Parque da Pena using the same Romantic aesthetic with twisty paths, exotic plants, and mythological statues. Overshadowed by the palace, the park often gets overlooked by visitors but is well worth visiting.

The palace was used by the royal family up until the fall of the monarchy in 1910. Queen Amélia, the last queen of Portugal, was at the palace when she received news of the coup and she spent her last night in Portugal here before fleeing the country in exile. The Portuguese state classified Pena Palace as a national monument in 1910 and it is now one of Portugal’s most visited sites.

Tower of Belém (Torre de Belém)

Probably the most recognizable site on the list, Lisbon’s Torre de Belém has become an enduring symbol of the Portuguese Age of Discoveries. Built in 1514-1519, this fortress which is officially named Torre de São Vicente was the first thing sailors would see when returning home from their long voyages. It was built on the banks of the Tagus River in Belém, a district of Lisbon, to provide defence against invasion. In 1580, the fortress was captured by Spanish forces and began being used as a prison. In later centuries, it also served as a custom house, telegraph station, and lighthouse.

Designed by architect Francisco de Arruda, the limestone tower is an excellent example of the Portuguese Manueline style. Named for King Manuel I, this style of architecture incorporates motifs inspired by the Age of Discoveries, including nautical symbols such as ropes and anchors. The turrets of the fortress are decorated with carvings of exotic beasts including one of a rhinoceros inspired by the one presented to King Manuel I in 1515 as a diplomatic gift from India – the first rhino to set foot in Europe since Roman times.

Jerónimos Monastery (Mosteiro dos Jerónimos)

A stone’s throw away from the Torre de Belém in Lisbon, this monastery is an architectural marvel. It was founded by King Manuel I to commemorate the return of Vasco da Gama from India and was built on the site of the chapel where the famous explorer and his crew prayed before they set sail. Construction began on January 6 (Kings Day), 1501 and wasn’t completed until the 17th century. The monastery was home to the Order of St. Jerome. When the order was dissolved in 1834, the building was used as a school and orphanage until about 1940.

This is one of the finest examples of Manueline architecture anywhere in Portugal. The elaborately decorated cloisters are beyond compare with elegant arches, spindly columns, and naturalistic shells, vines, and leaves that appear to grow directly out of the honey-coloured stone. The adjoining church which houses the tomb of Vasco da Gama is equally impressive with massive columns and a beautiful vaulted ceiling. Famed 16th-century poet, Luís de Camões, often hailed as the Portuguese Shakespeare, is also interred here.

Alcobaça Monastery (Mosteiro de Alcobaça)

Founded in 1153 by Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal, this monastery was one of the richest and most powerful in the country. It is also the best-preserved example of Cistercian architecture and spatial philosophy which favoured simple, austere forms free from excessive ornamentation. This style acted as a visual representation of the Cistercians’ monastic ideals which focused on asceticism, simplicity, and discipline.

In the 18th century, however, the monks at Alcobaça became infamous for living a lifestyle that differed wildly from the quiet austerity of the Cistercian order. A British writer by the name of William Beckford paid a visit to the monastery in 1794 and, astonished by the decadence and gluttony he witnessed, wrote a scathing portrait of the “fat waddling monks” he encountered there. The well-preserved cloisters, dormitories, refectory and grand kitchen offer visitors a glimpse at the daily life in the monastery.

Inside the monastery’s church are the tombs of King Pedro I and his mistress, Inês de Castro whose tragic love story is the stuff of legend. Their elaborate tombs feature intricately carved sculptures and the inscription Até ao Fim do Mundo (until the end of the world). On Pedro’s orders, the tombs were installed facing one another so that they can rise up and see each other again on Judgement Day. 

Castle of Óbidos (Castelo de Óbidos)

With a beautiful historic centre and fully intact medieval walls, Óbidos is one of Portugal’s most alluring historical towns. In 1228, King Dinis presented the town as a wedding gift to his queen, Dona Isabel, starting a royal tradition that lasted until the 19th century. The towering medieval castle in the heart of the town is one of its highlights. Though the site has been occupied since Roman times, the existing castle was built by the Moors and then greatly expanded and altered by King Dinis in the 13th century.

In the 16th century, the castle keep was converted into a palace and Manueline flourishes were incorporated into the design which add a bit of whimsy to the structure. The palace is now a luxury pousada with nine guest rooms that offer stunning views over the town.

Óbidos is a popular destination for day-trippers and hosts many festivals throughout the year. For a more authentic experience, consider an overnight stay at one of its many guesthouses. Early mornings when the cobblestone streets are quiet and still and the sun is just starting to peek over the medieval walls is when this enchanting town really works its magic.

Castle of Guimarães (Castelo de Guimarães)

Guimarães is a historic walled city first settled in the 9th century. It is fondly regarded by the Portuguese as the birthplace of their country owing to the fact that Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal, was born here. In the 10th century, Countess Mumadona Dias ordered the construction of a monastery in Guimarães and a fortified castle to defend the monastery and town against attacks by the Moors and Norsemen. It is this castle where her son, Afonso who would go on to become king is believed to have been born in 1110.

The castle was altered and expanded significantly over the centuries. The present form with its seven towers features Romanesque and Gothic architecture and dates back to the 13th and 14th centuries. The castle was abandoned and fell into ruin after the 15th century and at one point was nearly demolished. In 1910, it was declared a national monument and was extensively restored. It now stands as an important historic symbol of the founding of Portugal.

Batalha Monastery (Mosteiro da Batalha)

This extraordinary monastery was built to commemorate King João I’s victory over the Castilians in the 1385 Battle of Aljubarrota – an important victory that preserved Portugal’s independence. Construction of the monastery began in 1386 and did not end until 1517. The dominant style of architecture is Flamboyant Gothic, a popular late-gothic style seen throughout Europe. However, the Manueline additions made in the 15th and 16th centuries are what really set this site apart.

Even after nearly 150 years of construction, the Monastery of Batalha was never actually finished. The Capelas Imperfeitas (Unfinished Chapels) is one of the most remarkable features of the site. Accessible only from outside the monastery, this building was commissioned as a royal mausoleum in 1437 but it’s the magnificent Manueline features added later by architect Mateus Fernandes that really steal the show. The roofless octagonal structure is an architectural masterpiece, made even more dramatic for being open to the sky.

Another dramatic feature can be found in the centre of the chapel: the enormous medieval tomb of King João I and his English wife Philippa of Lancaster whose marriage in 1387 cemented the important alliance between Portugal and England that still exists to this day as the oldest in Europe. Bays in the chapel walls also contain the tombs of their sons, among them Prince Henry the Navigator.