‘The Enchanted Night of Pena – The Artist-King’s Visit’ announces new dates after initial sessions sell out
03 Dec 2025
On 13th and 20th December, at 08:00 p.m., additional sessions will be held of the immersive experience 'The Enchanted Night of Pena – The Artist-King’s Visit,’ an unprecedented initiative at the National Palace of Pena that sold out quickly after its launch, confirming strong public interest in this exclusive format.
Created by Parques de Sintra especially for the 'Magical Sintra – Once Upon a Magical Christmas' programme, this experience revives one of the most intimate and affectionate traditions of the 19th-century royal family: the moment when King Ferdinand II dressed as Saint Nicholas to celebrate Christmas with his children, offering gifts and creating a night of fantasy inside the romantic palace he envisioned.
Offering exclusive night-time access to the National Palace of Pena, outside regular visiting hours, ‘The Enchanted Night of Pena – The Artist King’s Visit’ is a unique format within Portugal’s heritage sector. It takes advantage of an atmosphere shaped by scenic lighting that transforms the architecture, revealing shadows, details, and atmospheres impossible to observe during the day.
This narrative and historical immersion is guided by an assistant of Saint Nicholas, who leads the group through halls and chambers, sharing historical secrets and small period rituals, culminating in a meeting with King Ferdinand II disguised as Saint Nicholas, performed in an intimate and immersive tone.
The evening concludes with hot chocolate and Christmas biscuits served inside the Palace, a gesture designed to reinforce the welcoming and symbolic character of the tradition.
João Sousa Rego, Chair of the Board of Directors of Parques de Sintra, highlights: ‘This initiative is an example of the kind of experience we seek to create: intimate, historically grounded, and emotionally memorable. Each visitor feels they are stepping inside a real moment in the history of Pena.’
The strong public response to the initial sessions led Parques de Sintra to expand the offer and make two new sessions available, maintaining the exclusive model, small capacity, and fully night-time experience, which reinforces the emotional connection to the monument and its history.
This initiative reaffirms the role of Parques de Sintra in creating distinctive cultural experiences and reflects the company’s commitment to developing innovative formats that enhance heritage, deepen people’s relationship with historic sites, and offer new ways of experiencing monuments.
‘The Enchanted Night of Pena – The Artist-King’s Visit’ lasts 1 hour and includes the transfer between the main entrance of the Park of Pena and the Palace of Pena. Tickets for the additional sessions are sold online on the Parques de Sintra website at €55 per participant. A family pack (2 adults + 2 children up to 12 years old) is also available for €120.
The initiative is part of the ‘Magical Sintra – Once Upon a Magical Christmas’ programme, organised by Sintra Municipal Council, Parques de Sintra, and Cultursintra Foundation, with the support of SMAS Sintra, EMES, and MEO.
