The decorative scheme in Pena's Second Passage Room was chosen by D. Fernando II, the king who ordered the palace's construction. At the National Palace of Sintra, a tile-conservation project brought together Parques de Sintra and World Monuments Fund – Portugal.
Paint Beneath Later Layers
In its account of 1 September 2025, Parques de Sintra reported that conservation work in Pena's Second Passage Room had uncovered the original decorative painting. The last intervention there, dating from the twentieth century, had concealed that decoration.
The conservator-restorers began by making probes into the wall surfaces. These investigations established the existence of the earlier decorative campaign and also revealed the original decoration of the ceiling. In its account of the discovery at Pena, Parques de Sintra stated that no photographic record of that ceiling decoration was known.
The rediscovered room is in tones of blue, with framing picked out in ochre. Its painting has an oriental suggestion, potentially inspired by Chinese motifs. Large floral ornaments appear on the walls, while the ceiling carries a trellis executed in semi-trompe l'oeil.
Tiles Studied in Place
The first stage of the tile-conservation works began on 26 January 2026. Its scope included the tiled coverings of both the walls and the floor of the Sala Árabe, together with the fountain at the centre of that room. It also included the tiled floor in the Câmara de D. Afonso VI.
The project was presented as reinforcing the preservation of a tile collection described as one of the most significant in Portuguese and European heritage. The announcement placed particular emphasis on innovation in methods, the production of knowledge and the involvement of technical and scientific partners.
A central element was the participation of national and international specialists in tile conservation. Their involvement was intended to help define guidelines for interventions carried out in situ, with the tiles treated in place. The 28 January 2026 announcement of the Sintra tile works gave an estimated duration of six months for this stage, with completion planned for July 2026.