Sintra, continued

In the early nineteenth century Portugal was ruled by Queen Maria II.
She was married to Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (a cousin to British Queen Victoria's husband Prince Albert).
In 1838 he decided to turn a small monastery near Sintra into an elaborate royal palace, called the Palacio da Pena.
The design is an eclectic and brightly colored mix of medieval Gothic and Moorish elements.

Throughout are astounding patterns in tile, plaster, and wood.

In addition to the amazing palace are vast woods and gardens, with paths, ponds, and small shelters of exotic designs.

Queen Maria II died in 1853, but Ferdinand (by then referred to as King Ferdinand II) remarried a Swiss-American actress.
He had an Alpine cottage built for her in the vast woods belonging to the palace, where they could be alone together.

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