Tag Archives: sintra

Fog and Forest, Pena Palace

Fog and Forest, Pena Palace
“Fog and Forest, Pena Palace” — Fog and rain in the forest on the grounds of the Pena Palace, Portugal.

You would probably never guess by looking at this photograph, but it was made in a location where there were a lot of other people nearby. It looks like a lonely, fog-filled forest scene, but I made the photograph while walking along a paved path to the entrance of the Pena Palace. The Palace is a remarkable structure that sits on top of a ridge above the town of Sintra, Portugal, not far from Lisbon.

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Windows and Yellow Wall, Pena Palace

Windows and Yellow Wall, Pena Palace
“Windows and Yellow Wall, Pena Palace” — Pena Palace windows and yellow walls on a rainy day, Portugal.

The Pena Palace sits on the summit of a ridge above the town of Sintra, a short train ride from Lisbon. From a distance the place seems unreal, given its location, its architecture, and its striking color scheme. Up close the weathering changes the effect a bit, but in a way that only seems to make the place a bit more mysterious.

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Detail, Pena Palace

Detail, Pena Palace
“Detail, Pena Palace” — A pattern of balls and pyramids, details of the Pena Palace, Portugal.

The Pena Palace sits on the top of a ridge above Sintra, Portugal, a short train ride from Lisbon. (You do have to get to the ridge from the train station, perhaps a story for another time.) It is a remarkable structure that appears like something from a fantasy, especially in the foggy and rainy conditions while we were there. The palace and its turrets and towers are painted in brilliant colors.

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Forest and Fog at the Pena Palace

Forest and Fog at the Pena Palace
“Forest and Fog at the Pena Palace” — Thick fog engulfs the forest surrounding the Pena Palace near Lisbon, Portugal.

The morning weather was not promising when we took the train from Lisbon, to visit the Pena Palace in the mountains above Sintra. By the time we arrived at the entrance to the palace grounds we we under cloudy skies and soon engulfed by low clouds and fog. I made this photograph as we walked through the forest near the palace.

At first I think we may have been a bit disappointed by this weather — and challenged to keep dry and warm! But as the day wore on my attitude changed. While a warm and sunny day might have felt pleasant, this challenging weather produced a lot more visual drama and mystery.


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G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

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