Sintra, already one of Portugal’s big draws with its spectacular Pena Palace and National Palace, now has a new ‘palace’ to show off, although it has no connection to royalty, only to wealth and fame. It opens on April 30.
The new attraction, open to the public for the first time since it was built, has just undergone an extensive restoration after coming into public ownership. It’s considered one of the most important works of a leading architect of the time, Jose Luis Monteiro. In style it’s considered ‘revivalist,’ combining several styles of Gothic with Romantic influences.
Casa Biester, built in the 1880s for Portuguese journalist and playwright Ernesto Biester, has long been a familiar sight to visitors looking down from the Pena Palace further up the hill; moviegoers may recognized it as a setting for the Johnny Depp film ‘The Ninth Gate.’ It is surrounded by its own gardens designed by a leading landscaper and featuring exotic plants.
More details and some interior photos can be seen HERE
