Sala Leito Aparato 790X593px — Discover the objects on display in the National Palace of Sintra

State Bed Room

State Bed Room

This is one of the rooms in the palace whose original function is unknown.
Possibly built in the 15th century.

Today, this is where a 17th-century state bed that belonged to the Dukes of Cadaval stands.

Discover the objects on display in this room.

State Bed

Portugal (?), 2nd half 17th century
Ebony, rosewood, angelim, silver and copper
Inv. No. PNS6207

This bed is one of the most emblematic pieces in the National Palace of Sintra and was acquired by Parques de Sintra in 2016. It is the only 17th-century state bed existing in the country. It acted as a symbol of the status and power of its owner and would have stood in a part of the palace with restricted access. A similar bed was used to display the body of King Afonso VI (1643–1683) in public after his death at the Palace in 1683.

Authority

This is the oldest section of the Town Palace, consisting of a fortified structure built to defend the surrounding territory. Remodelled at the time of King Dinis and Isabel of Aragon (13th century), it was a public demonstration of feudal authority. This authority belonged to the queen, to whom the king had handed responsibility for administering the lands (or town) of Sintra.

As the pinnacle of authority, the queens resided in this part of the palace, which had the most restricted access of all. This was also a way to control access to the women of the court so that the authority of the king and his descendants could not be called into question.

However, in the 17th century, it was given a different use, becoming a prison for King Afonso VI (1643–1683). Forced to relinquish power by his brother, the king was held here under guard by 300 soldiers for nine years. A symbol of authority in earlier times but now obsolete, this part of the palace was converted into a prison for a king whose royal authority had been removed.