Striking with its uniqueness, the Monserrate Palace is located near Sintra, a traditional summer resort and the spot of the kings of Portugal and the Portuguese aristocracy.

The Palace was built in 1858 for sir Francis cook, an English baronet, who was later to become Viscount de Montserrat. The history of the Palace begins in 1540, when on the mountain, not far from Sintra, the chapel was built, called Montserrat. During several centuries of land near the chapel bathed by different people and was built up. Eventually, in 1855, Francis cook, the famous English textile magnate and collector, bought the estate from the family of Mel and Castro, who was at that time the owners, and built a new Palace.

The construction of this architectural complex was committed by the English architect James Knowles Jr. Around the Palace was a Park. The project engaged a landscape designer James Windrow alongside the artist-landscape painter William Stockdale and William Neuville - leading botanist of the time. In the Park there is a waterfall, lakes and even artificial ruins. In addition to cork oak and strawberry tree in the Park flowers and plants from all over the world, which include palms, bamboos, rhododendrons and many others.

The Palace itself is a Prime example of Portuguese romanticism. The building is decorated with a large round tower, the interior of the Palace impresses with its exotic decoration in neo-Gothic style. It is worth noting that in 2013, the Palace and Park of the Montserrat received the award European Garden Award.