Grief Palace was built on the remains of a monastery, which had also been largely destroyed by the aforementioned earthquake and was subsequently abandoned by the monks. The old cloister and decorations at one point were visibly integrated into the new building. The cloisters were, forms the centerpiece around which ranks the royal apartments. The palace, however, turned out quite clearly from the size and number of rooms for a royal summer residence. The owner came from Saxony Coburg. These were the Prince Ferdinand II of Saxe 'Coburg-Gotha, who married the widowed Queen Maria II of Portugal. Politics interested him less than the art. He also painted himself, texted and made music like. Thus solidified the idea for this castle almost entirely to his fantasies, which made them stone of German architect Wilhelm Ludwig von Eschwege.
The two authors of this book go in the detection of this building remains quite chronologically. First, they emphasize the importance of the building for Portugal, but especially in the context of the increasing importance of preservation because Altes was the built parks for the first time in Portugal preserved, as just the Moorish castle in the vicinity of the castle, which is actually for centuries to decay was abandoned. Since 1995, include the castle and the surrounding buildings with the Park a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Before one gets to influence the size of the town of Sintra, the authors consider on a double page, the floor plans. This is followed by the description of the old convent, rests on the foundations of the palace. Drawings provide information about how the monastery and the landscape once looked. The environment was relatively sparse, comparable to the area around the Cabo da Roca. Hard to believe that was accomplished landscape architectural masterpiece here. But you have to remember that there are here in the mountains is a lot cooler than in neighboring Lisbon, was given so that no large irrigation a sound basis for such vegetation, even in the cork trees and eucalyptus Australian 'trees can be found. After the Chapter Monastery of Client Dom Fernando is scrutinized, briefly reported about his life and his political misfortunes, which should make the only unpopular German popular later. The castle was so to speak, his life project, because in the completion of the deceased king, who after the death of Maria II (died at birth of 11 children) was married again with an opera singer. In another 16 pages a report on the architectural history takes place. Here also the first drafts demonstrated that no longer can be dated quite accurately, but can already see the final palace. These include floor plans, watercolors, as well as engravings. Approximately 26 pages devote the authors looking at the outer architecture and the important design details such as coat of arms, faces, the Moorish gate or the Triton Portico. About 50 pages focus on the interiors with a short detour to the park. The rooms are always listed separately and in chronological order according to the inspection process. Also ceramics and other works of applied art of the palace are briefly outlined. There are short biographies to Dona Maria II, Dom Carlos I, Dona Amelia and Dom Manuel II, which then were, the Portuguese royal family ended in 1910 completed.
The book comprises 128 pages and is paperback. The authors seek to bridge the gap to create both interest in tourism as well as the specialized audience, but succeeds only partially. Laymen with regard to art and history are probably overwhelmed and rather bored architect. But consolation provides all the comprehensive imagery which unfortunately some color comes faded. So also the image proportion is much higher than the text portion. The book was published in addition to the version offered here in English and in Portuguese and Spanish. One can acquire for about 15 dollars in European castle. The premises have been photographed here without interference and Touristenleitwege. They are even there to take any pictures in the quality of the book from there. In the castle is allowed as everywhere in Sintra pictures without flash.
Conclusion: A book with good to average grades. If you are interested at the Palace can go wrong with the purchase of this book nothing. But keep in mind that not limit the writers here at Sintra, but almost exclusively on the grief Palace.
