The Palace of Sintra's long history began more than a thousand years ago. In the 8th century, the Umayyad dynasty conquered Hispania and the Moorish Al- Andalus era began. As early as the 10th century, a Moorish residential palace was established in present-day Sintra.

Sintra, Portugal, is a UNESCO World Heritage site with a history that spans over a thousand years, beginning with its 10th-century origins as a Moorish stronghold. The iconic Moorish Castle still stands as a testament to this era. Following the Christian Reconquista in 1147, Sintra became a favored summer retreat for Portuguese royalty due to its cool microclimate and lush hills. The National Palace of Sintra, with its distinct twin conical chimneys, was in continuous use by the monarchy from the 13th century until 1910. The 19th century marked Sintra's "Golden Age" of Romanticism, led by King Ferdinand II, who transformed the ruins of a monastery into the whimsical, multi-colored Pena Palace. This era saw the construction of other architectural marvels like the Quinta da Regaleira and Monserrate Palace, blending Gothic, Egyptian, Islamic, and Renaissance styles. In 2026, Sintra remains Europe's premier example of Romantic architecture, preserved as a "Cultural Landscape" where man-made palaces and natural forests exist in a carefully balanced, fairy-tale harmony.