Monserrate Palace and Park, Sintra (must see)

The Monserrate Palace (Portuguese: Palácio de Monserrate) is an exotic palatial villa located near Sintra, the traditional summer resort of the Portuguese court. It was built in 1858 for Sir Francis Cook, an English baronet created visconde de Monserrate by King Luís. Monserrate turned to an English architect, James Knowles Jr., for designs. Though its Moghul-inspired details are unique in Portugal, its eclecticism is a fine example of the Sintra Romanticism, along with other nearby palácios, such as the Pena Palace.

In its surroundings is Monserrate Park, 33 hectares of exuberant ancient trees, exotic and thematic gardens (Mexican, Japanese, rose garden...), a valley of ferns (with numerous specimens of the so-called tree fern), the first large meadow of grass planted in Portugal, a waterfall, romantic ruins, ponds and pergolas.

As large tree specimens, the presence of: Araucaria de Bidwill, Araucaria heterophylla or Northfolk and Kauri from Queensland should be highlighted. It also has good specimens of Swamp Cypress and a spectacular specimen of Metrosideros excelsa or iron tree or New Zealand Christmas tree, with abundant and striking red flowers in early summer.