Parque da Pena

Beautiful woodlands dotted with lakes and follies and famous for having trees and plants from around the world, the park (Parque) surrounding the Palace of Pena was just stunning. It would have been a crime to have taken the bus from the entrance to the palace, when you could stroll through the beautiful grounds and glades of the park. I am standing under a glorius magnolia at the edge of a glade which used to be home to bull fighting shows many centuries ago. Folk tales have it that the glens and glades in the park were full of nymphs, fauns and satyrs, but unfortuantely we didn't see a single one.