Open for Works - Find out what works are taking place on the monuments
The “Aberto para Obras”, or ‘Open for Works’, concept was implemented in 2006, an initiative that allows visitors to closely witness the ongoing safeguard and recovery work, favouring dialogue with the specialist technicians involved. These works can sometimes involve some constraints.
Find out about work that has already been done this year on Sintra's monuments, what is currently under way, and what is in the pipeline.
Work in progress
- Until March 2025:
- Recovery of water systems at the Monserrate hunting grounds.
- Work on the passage tunnel to the Jeu de Paume (GNR access tunnel), at the National Palace of Sintra, with traffic interruptions for 3 to 4 weeks.
- Until April 2025:
- Maintenance work on historic luminaires in the Palaces Sintra, Pena and Queluz.
- Adaptation of the Gatekeeper's House to a Ticket Office for the Park of Monserrate – Temporary closure of the public restroom facilities.
- Museological reformulation of the Robillion Pavilion at the National Palace of Queluz – The works may require the closure of some rooms.
- Until May 2025:
- At the Convent of the Capuchos, restoration of the Hermitage of the Ecce Homo, the Hermitage of the Crucifixion and the Old Oven.
- Renovation of the shop of the National Palace of Queluz.
- Until June 2025:
- Restoration of the Southeast and Northeast Facades of the entrance to the National Palace of Pena.
- Intervention in the new facilities of the museological reserve at the National Palace of Sintra (former stables) – The works may cause some disruptions to the movement of vehicles and pedestrians.
- Improving the conditions of use of forest areas under the management of Parques de Sintra.
- Until July 2025:
- Restoration works on window openings ongoing at the National Palace of Sintra.
- Until December 2025:
- Restoration works on window openings ongoing at the National Palace of Pena.
- Until February 2026:
- Maintenance of the non-slip pavement on the curve of the Moorish Castle Visitor Support Centre, on Calçada da Pena.
- Until September 2026:
- Maintenance work to safeguard the tile covering of the Tiled Canal in the Gardens of the National Palace of Queluz.
- Until December 2026:
- Restoration works on window openings ongoing at the National Palace of Queluz.
Work carried out in 2025
- Maintenance/conservation actions for the wall coverings in the Access Room to the North Tower of the Palace of Monserrate.
- Conservation and restoration of the walls of the former Chinese Room in the National Palace of Sintra.
- Work in the Preta garden, with restrictions on access to the Gardens of the National Palace of Sintra.
- Restoration works on the wall coverings of the Royal Kitchen corridor and the Tower staircase of the National Palace of Pena.
- Conservation and restoration works on interior doorways and windows at the National Palace of Queluz.
- Renovation of the ticket office of the National Palace of Queluz.
Work carried out in 2024
- Requalification of the main entrance to the Park of Pena and adjacent buildings.
- Interventions on the chimneys of the National Palace of Sintra.
- Waxing of floors of the Palace of Monserrate.
- Recuperation of the Tapada dos Bichos hicking trail.
- Renaturalisation plantations on the access road to the Convent of the Capuchos.
- Planting of tea plants (camellias) at Alto do Chá in the Park of Pena.
- Recovery of water systems at Hunting grounds of Monserrate.
- Maintenance of footpaths in the Farmyard of Monserrate.
- Planting to enhance the flowerbeds in the Garden of the Little Birds Fountain in the Park of Pena.
- Maintenance work in the Hothouse of the Park of Pena.
- Maintenance work on the access terrace to the Moorish Castle wall.
- Maintenance work on the balustrade around the perimeter of Palace of Monserrate.
- Renovation of the pavement in the horses paddock at Pena Farm (Park of Pena).
- One-off conservation work inside the Palace of Monserrate, in the staircase hall leading to the Upper Floor and on the ground floor of the South Tower.
- Construction of a naturalised pond in the Park of Pena.
- Restoration of the Royal Chapel of the National Palace of Queluz
- Work on the chimneys of the National Palace of Sintra, involving washing, plaster recovery and whitewashing.
- Conservation and restoration work in the Arabic Cabinet of the National Palace of Pena.
- Maintenance work on the facade of the Triton Arch at the National Palace of Pena.
- Inspection of the roof of the Music Room at the Palace of Monserrate.
- Phytosanitary treatment of the boxwood hedges in the Preta Garden, at the National Palace of Sintra.
- Assembly of the organ in the Chapel of the National Palace of Queluz.
- Phytosanitary treatments for the boxwood hedges of the Gardens of the National Palace of Queluz.
- Restoration of the path in Parque das Merendas (Picnic Park), providing access to Vila Sassetti.
- Conservation and restoration works in the interior of the Convent of the Capuchos.
- Conservation and restoration works in the Sacristy, Hall and Gallery's room of the National Palace of Pena.
- Conservation and restoration work on the walls of the former Chinese Room at the National Palace of Sintra.
Work carried out in 2023
- Conservation and maintenance of the interior panelling of the Royal Kitchen of the National Palace of Pena.
- Structural reinforcement of the roofs and wall coverings of the National Palace of Sintra.
- Work on the Villa Sassetti pedestrian path.
- Rehabilitation of the Santa Eufémia pedestrian path.
- Work on the Queen's Terrace at the National Palace of Pena.
- Work on the King Carlos Terrace at the National Palace of Pena.
- Work on the Sentry Walk of the National Palace of Pena.
- Work on the King's Dressing Room in the Chalet of the Countess of Edla.
- Work on the Audience Patio in the National Palace of Sintra.
- Recovery of the flowerbed structures in the Princes' Garden, in the Gardens of the National Palace of Queluz.
- Maintenance work on the tiles in the Tunnel of the Triton at the National Palace of Pena.
- Conservation and restoration of the Cloister Cellar at the National Palace of Pena.
- Stabilisation of the ceramic flooring in the Chapel Nave of the National Palace of Pena.
- Conservation and restoration of openings in the Tea Room and Chapel of the National Palace of Pena.
- Rehabilitation of the path between the Lagos car park (Park of Pena) and the access to Villa Sassetti.
- Replacement of pedestrian bridges at Bichos hunting grounds and the Moorish Castle and restoration of the surrounding paths.
- Work on the Greenhouses Courtyard at the National Palace of Sintra.
- Work on the kitchen at Palace of Monserrate.
- Replacement of four pedestrian bridges at Farmyard of Monserrate, restoration of the sculpture that exemplifies the natural values of the Sintra hills and repair of the amphitheatre and wooden stairs.
- Conservation and restoration of the Tank of the Lion at the National Palace of Queluz.
- Restoration of window and door frames in the National Palace of Queluz.
- Interventions in the antechamber and hall of the National Palace of Queluz.
- Works on the South Tower of the Palace of Monserrate.