The Palace of Monserrate: From Ruin to Romantic Icon

Larger than life: Art that inspires us through the ages

The park and palace of Monserrate after Sir Francis Cook restored  the property and turned it into his summer residence. The colorful round domes were inspired by the Duomo in Florence, Italy. The European influences contrast with the Moorish arches, columns, and palm trees, making Monserrate an example of eclectic Romantic architecture.  (Park and Palace of Monserrate, PSML, EMIGUS).

Located in the lush and enchanting landscape of Sintra, Portugal, lies the Monserrate Palace, a 19th-century Romantic era gem embellished in Indian, Italian, Moorish, and Neo-Gothic styles. Over the centuries, Monserrate became a retreat for writers and a source of inspiration for travelers.

Even in a neglected state, the palace inspired none other than Romantic poet Lord Byron himself in his poem, “Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage.”

The site was abandoned several times before Sir Francis Cook (1817–1901), a British trader and art collector, bought Monserrate and transformed it into a palatial villa with a 3,000-acre botanical garden. In 1858, he commissioned father-and-son architects Thomas James Knowles Sr. and Jr. to restore and expand the palace.

The ornate architecture is said to be influenced by the Duomo in Florence, Italy; the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain; and the Brighton Pavilion in Brighton, England. The interior is surprisingly exotic, with Moorish arches and columns, Italian Gothic arches, a marble fountain, pink and blue marble floors, and Renaissance sculptures. This eclectic architecture is typical of 19th-century Romanticism and showcases Cook’s passion for the arts.

The romantic beauty doesn’t end inside. The park—designed by landscape designer William Stockdale and head gardener of Kew Gardens, James Burt—has rare plant species from all over the world.

Sir Francis’s restoration elevated Monserrate into a work of romantic art. In 1995, Monserrate became part of UNESCO’s Sintra Hills, called a World Heritage Cultural Landscape. In 2010, the palace was restored to its former splendor and continues to inspire visitors from all over the world.

One of the lush gardens of Monserrate. The waterfall was already there when Lord Byron visited in 1809 and became enchanted with Monserrate’s natural beauty. The waterfall was commissioned by British writer William Beckford, author of the Gothic novel “Vathek,” who was a tenant at Monserrate before he abandoned the grounds and Sir Francis Cook purchased the site. EMIGUS/Parks of Sintra and Monte de Lua

The Indian arch in the park of Monserrate shows the eclectic architectural influences. The ornamental arch was acquired in India by Sir Francis Cook himself, a passionate art collector. José Marques Silva/Parks of Sintra and Monte de Lua

The Palace of Monserrate has several entrances, and this one clearly depicts the Neogothic and Moorish influences of the palace, with detailed arches and columns. Exoticism combines classical influences with the oriental façade, tropical fauna and flora, and the decorative fountain. Luis Duarte/Parks of Sintra and Monte de Lua

Next to the palace’s main entrance, columns and arches support the round cupolas. The carved flowers and plants on the top of the columns invoke nature, a beloved theme of romanticism. Behind these Moorish columns is the intricately-carved front door. The detailed tile (in Portuguese “Azulejo”) next to the entrance is of Moorish influence and also honors Portuguese architecture, which was heavily influenced by the Moors. Luis Duarte/Parks of Sintra and Monte de Lua

The gallery reminds visitors of the Alhambra palace in Granada, Spain. The foliage motifs and arches represent the continuity between indoors and outside, as the exterior style reproduces the interior style. There are no doors in the palace, which allowed the Cook family and their guests to enjoy the house informally, as there are no barriers between the guest rooms and the family rooms. EMIGUS/Parks of Sintra and Monte de Lua

The colored cupola (the dome-like ceiling) bathes the central atrium in light and also reminds visitors of the romantic character of Gothic architecture with its octagonal shape. The arches, stained glass, carvings, and foliage motifs are typical of Moorish architecture. Luis Duarte/Parks of Sintra and Monte de Lua

The central atrium was a place where the Cook family and their guests would cross paths, as it connects the public and private rooms of the palace. Natural beauty is highlighted in the shimmering water fountain, the light-filled upper cupola, and beautifully-carved plant motifs on the walls. The eclectic architecture combines Moorish wood carvings and Italian marble to create a romantic style. Luis Duarte/Parks of Sintra and Monte de Lua

When Francis Cook stayed in his palatial villa, he worked in the library, the only room with a door. The beautifully carved door, arches, ceilings, and walls are Neogothic, a style that romantic architects were fond of incorporating. Luis Duarte/Parks of Sintra and Monte de Lua

Cook was an admirer of beautiful rooms, as shown in the grand music room. This room was used for socializing and receptions for the Cook family and their guests. Today, this room is used for concerts for its acoustic qualities as well as the beautiful views of the gardens.  At the base of the cupola, plaster busts of Saint Cecilia, the Muses, and Apollo symbolize music through the ages. Luis Duarte/Parks of Sintra and Monte de Lua

A detail of the bust of St. Cecilia, patron saint of music, at the base of the music room’s cupola. Architectural elements are combined with relief sculptures to express the physical and symbolic beauty of the romantic palace. José Marques Silv/Parks of Sintra and Monte de Lua