New welcome centre at the Park of Pena is now up and running

As part of the project to upgrade the main entrance to the Park of Pena and the adjacent buildings, Parques de Sintra has completed the new welcome centre, which is now available to visitors in the building to the right of the gate. In this space, visitors can enjoy an area with information about the Park and the National Palace of Pena, ask questions at the visitor support office, buy tickets and use the new locker area, which has 50 units.

With a view to installing the new welcome centre, both the interior of the building (walls, floors, ceilings and openings) and the exterior were restored and adapted to the new functions, with the recurring use of wood to achieve a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

The main entrance to the Park of Pena is a fundamental point in the process of welcoming, informing and directing visitors to both the Park and the National Palace of Pena, which is why Parques de Sintra decided to focus on improving it and reorganising the services provided there. Having completed the intervention, which followed the principle of combining functionality with the preservation of historical and architectural identity, which governs all conservation and restoration projects carried out by the company, the space now offers better conditions for the enjoyment of visitors and company employees.

The work in this area also included refurbishing the interior and exterior of the building to the left of the gate, which houses various support services for the daily operation of the Park and Palace of Pena, as well as the adjacent sanitary facilities; restoring the gate, the bell and the exterior lighting lamps; and conserving and restoring the stonework.

A kiosk with vending machines and new picnic tables were installed in the Camellia Garden Picnic Area, located next to the transfer stop that takes visitors between the entrance to the Park of Pena and the Palace.

The renovation of the Gardeners' House has also been completed. This building, which has a canteen for the company's employees and storage spaces to support the gardeners, is now more comfortable and functional.

The ticket offices that used to operate outside the Park of Pena will soon be removed and the site will be repaved, creating a new seating area and improving accessibility conditions.

In all, Parques de Sintra invested 632,000 euros to carry out these works.

In the last decade, the parks and monuments managed by Parques de Sintra have received around 25 million visitors, and the company has invested 40 million euros in the built and natural heritage under its care. With no recourse to the state budget, Parques de Sintra is committed to a pioneering management model based on leveraging the heritage to generate income which is then reinvested into its recovery and maintenance. Continuing in the same vein, the company plans to invest around 30 million euros in the future to enhance the parks and monuments under its management.