Portugal's Garden of Romanticism

Parque e Palácio de Monserrate boasts Portugal's most peaceful and romantic garden. Located in Sintra, this palatial villa is surrounded by massive garden grounds full of lush foliage, romantic architecture, verdant pathways, and chapel ruins worthy of a fantasy novel (or an Uncharted game 😉).

A PEACEFUL ESTATE

The main reason I picked Parque e Palácio de Monserrate over the more popular Quinta da Regaleira is simply because the latter is overcrowded with tour groups, while Monserrate felt like a secret jewel. Both are worth visiting, but you may prefer Monserrate for a more peaceful and relaxing experience. I visited with my husband in mid-May of 2025, and we almost had the entire place to ourselves. You can check out a short reel I made HERE.

THE VISION OF FRANCIS COOK

Stairs to the lower gardens

Monserrate has a long history that dates back to 1540, when a hermitage was established there by Friar Gaspar Preto. The estate later had several British tenants, including writer William Beckford from 1794-1799. It later attracted the eye of the Romantic movement, including Lord Byron.

In 1863, British trader and art collector Francis Cook became the owner of the estate. Thus began the construction of the palace which takes inspiration from gothic and Moorish influences. Cook employed botanists and master gardeners to create a surrounding landscape that was filled with species from around the world.

Parque e Palácio de Monserrate was acquired by the Portuguese government in 1949. It became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995.

The chapel "ruins"

THE CHAPEL RUINS

There are lush ferns and tropical plants alongside native species, water features, and many romantic pathways leading to garden features.

If you follow the winding path down from the palace, you will eventually reach the ruins of what looks to be an ancient chapel. The walls are overgrown with roots and vines that perfectly encapsulates the Romanticism of the past. This is in fact a "garden feature" or "false" ruin that was designed by Francis Cook to replace the original Chapel of Our Lady of Monserrate.

The chapel is definitely worth the easy hike down, but I highly recommend comfortable shoes if you want to explore the entire area.

PLANNING YOUR VISIT

Parque e Palácio de Monserrate is open 9am - 7pm with the palace (if you want to go inside) open from 9:30am - 6pm. Please plan to allow around 2-3 hours to walk the grounds, although it would be easy to spend half the day there.

Tickets for adults were 12 euros and they have family tickets available. For the most updated information on hours and pricing, please visit Palácio de Monserrate's official website.

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