Sintra Summer School 2026 to be dedicated to the theme ‘Serving at the Palace: From the Throne to the Kitchen in Early Modern Courts’

From August 31^st, 2026 to September 4^th, 2026, the National Palaces of Sintra, Queluz and Pena will once again host the Sintra Summer School, which this year will be dedicated to the theme ‘Serving at the Palace: From the Throne to the Kitchen in Early Modern Courts’. Bringing together national and international specialists who have produced innovative contributions to the history of service in Early Modern Europe, this edition is jointly organised by Parques de Sintra; Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Fundación Carlos de Amberes; CHAM – Centro de Humanidades, FCSH/Nova, UAç; Universidad de Burgos; Universidad Castilla-La Mancha; and Fundação Casa de Bragança.

Service in Early Modern courts transcended mere domestic tasks. It structured hierarchies, career paths and courtly daily life, connecting the king, courtiers and servants in networks of obligation, loyalty and prestige. Sintra Summer School 2026 will explore this complex web in its political, social and moral dimensions, addressing service not only as a daily practice, but also as a structuring element of the political and social order of this historical period.

Through a combination of expert-led sessions and immersive visits, course participants will deepen their knowledge of the trajectories, functions and lived experiences of servants, officers and courtiers in the Early Modern period. The main sessions will focus on service as a political bond, the organisation of noble households and the management of royal sites, the social conditions of palace labour, practices of body care and entertainment as a specific form of service.

At the National Palaces of Sintra, Queluz and Pena, and at the Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa, there will be direct contact with kitchens, chambers, chapels and ceremonial spaces where these social interactions took place. A workshop dedicated to the economy of favour and a demonstration of historical fencing will be two distinguishing experiences of this summer school, where service is revealed as both practice and performance.

Launched in 2024, the Sintra Summer School is now in its third edition. This Parques de Sintra initiative helps strengthen collaboration with renowned national and international educational institutions, whose contribution is essential to researching, producing and disseminating knowledge relating to the heritage managed by the company.

This summer course is aimed at undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students in history, art history, museology and heritage; professionals working in heritage and museums; and the general public with a specific interest in the theme. As this is an international course, the working language will be English. Applications for the 30 available places are open until May 31^st, 2026 and must be submitted via the Parques de Sintra website or by email at [email protected]. They require submission of the duly completed application form, a CV and a motivation letter. The selected participants will be announced during the month of June.