Date

Circa 1910

The Palácio Nacional (or Palácio da Vila) was used by the kings of Portugal for hunting and leisure. It is traditionally held to have been started during Moorish rule: numerous later additions (begun 1415) were made by John I of Aviz and, notably, by Manuel I in the 16th century. The skyline of the town is dominated by the large conical chimneys of the palace . It consists of a conglomeration of square buildings around open courtyards, an outstanding example of palace design originating in the Manueline and Mudéjar styles. The earliest surviving part of the palace is the Royal Chapel, possibly built during the reign of King Dinis I in the early 14th century. Raul Lino worked on restoring the palace in the 20th century.