The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-03-27

eNiAiileHt anu landscape BdlQellH5.
The old Pena convent was, under Don
Fernando's hand, turned into a feudal
castle with its towers, turrets, ram
parts, drawbridge and moat. The loca-
ton of the convent on one of the noun
tain peaks, 1900 feet above the sea lev
ell, was favorable for the development
of his plan. Certain features of the
convent, which was built in 1900 by
King Don Manoel of Portugal, were
preserved; the fiat stone arches of
many of the apartments, the cloister
and the beautiful chapel with its Won
derful alabaster altar piece. Tradition
says that the reason the French invad-
ers, in the time of the Peninsular war
of 1907 did not carry off this remark
able altar piece was the then great diff
fieulty, almost imposslbility, of remov-
ing the altar from its nearly inaccessible
location on the mountain top. In this
royal chapel the marriage of Don Fer
nando and the Countess of Edla took
place, according to the rites Of the
Catholic church. Later on the Coun-
tess of Edla embraced the Roman
Catholic faith, At Cintra their happi-
est days were passed, for here an elab-
crate system of macadamiZed roads
and paths had been planned and car
ried out by Don Fernando at an enor-
nous expense, SO that the beauties Of
the great mountain domain We're easily
accessible by carriage or by foot. WISH
tors We're always welcomed at Pena
and no passes were necessary.
AS you approach the mouth of the
Tagus on the steamer coming from the
Azores, the most prominent object WIS.,
ible is Pena Castle. 1t stands 1900 feet
above the sea at a distance of about
five miles from the shore of Portugal.
1t is located on spur of a range of
mountains of volcanic origin that seem
to rise suddenly out of the plain and
makes a most effective contrast with
the general features of the surround
ing country. The gilt domes of the cas-
tie, surrounding the latter addition,
which is Byzantine in it's architectural
style, shine occasionally in the sun,
and as suddenly grow dim when its sur
face is hidden by passing cloud. Mists
sometimes gather, and while the castle
itself is shrouded, the landscape be-
low will shine out in strong relief.
This point is the most southern in
Europe where camellias can be got to
grow. They were first introduced and
successfully grown by Don Fernando,
who also imported the big palms, ferns,
etc, from Brazil, as well as certain ma
tive North American trees, including
the maple and elm from Massachusetts,.
He utilized for replanting them the di-
versities of soil which exist upon the
Pena Castle grounds, committing the
various species to the different zones
or regions best calculated to insure
their growth. Thus the ferns are to be
seen on the lower ground here are the
camellias; and high up the pines and
other hardy plants. Don Fernando did
not force nature. He accommodated
his plants to different locations. The
result is a charming variety over a
large area, and owing to the prevalence
of moisture brought by the mists the
vegetation is kept fresh and green. In
its multitudinous aspects of sun and
shade, Cintra thus has a loneliness
which makes it at once a miracle of ma
ture and the despair of all merely HUI
man artifice.
Don Fernando's estate was miles in
extent, and during their stay at Pena
Castle Don Fernando seldom left the
grounds. They were so extensive that
q great variety of excursions could be
taken without leaving them. An old
Moorish castle stands upon the estate
one of the last vestiges of the
Moorish occupation of the Iberian pen
insula.
1t is a historical fact that while Iiv-
ing at Pena Castle Don Fernando de-
clined the crown of Spain, which was
offered him in 1869 by General Prim and
General Serrano, saying that he pre-
Ferred his private life in Portugal to
the cares and anxieties of residence
at the Escurial as monarch of Spain.
In 1876 the Prince of Wales was Wis
tor at Pena Castle, which visit was
later in the same year by the
second visit to Cintra of Dom Pedro and
lis Queen who were returning to Bra
I'll from their visit to our centennial at
In 1888 the late King of
spain and his wife, the present Queen
Regent visited Don Fernando and his
American wife, and especially enjoyed |
he Inequalities offered at the beautiful |
chateau.
General and Mrs Grant, on their ia |
nous trip around the world were driv-
N out from Lisbon in November 1873.
o see the Pena grounds. AT Lisbon the
general and his wife were entertained
t the winter residence of Don Fernan-
10, the Palace des Necessidades, which.
With it's semi-tropcal gardens and fine
ountains. commands an extensive view
f the Tagus and the surrounding
ountry. The huge apartments of the