The history of Montserrat Park began in 1540, when the monk Gaspard Preto, inspired by his travels in the Iberian Peninsula and the secluded monastery of Montserrat near Barcelona, ​​ordered the construction of a monastery dedicated to Our Lady of Montserrat. At that time, these lands were owned by the active hospital hospital Todos os Santos in Lisbon, where Preto was rector. He planned to use the site as a workshop and agricultural area for a hospital.

In the 17th century, the Montserrat estate was owned by the Mello e Castro family. However, the 1755 Lisbon earthquake caused serious damage to this cause. In 1789, the British merchant Gerard Visme rented the estate and began building a new castle, but lived in it for only a few years.

In 1794, the British writer William Beckford became a tenant of Montserrat. He commissioned the restoration and improvement of the buildings and gardens but named the estate in 1799. Even in its decline, Montserrat attracted foreign visitors such as Ron Byron, who admired it in his poem Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage.

In 1863, the British trader and collector Francis Cook became famous Montserrat and 1st Viscount of Montserrat. He commissioned the construction of a palace combining Gothic, Indian and Moorish influences. The exotic foliage motifs of the interior decoration flow smoothly into the exterior of the palace, surrounded by one of the best botanical gardens in Portugal.

Montserrat Park, inspired by Romanticism, brings together plant species from around the world, organized by geographical region. This was thanks to the landscape designer William Stockdale, the botanist William Neville and the master gardener James Burt, as well as the romantic spirit of Francis Cook. Along the winding paths here you can see rare species such as Arbutus, ancestral aboral ferns, araucarias, agaves, palms and bamboos.

In 1949, the Portuguese government purchased the Montserrat Palace and Park, which were classified as sites of public interest. In 1995 they became part of the cultural landscape of Sintra, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In 2000, management passed to the Sintra Gardens, where large-scale restoration began. In 2010, the palace was opened to visitors after the restoration of the roof and facades, and by 2016 the interiors were completely restored. As part of the worldwide restoration of Sintra Park, the formation of a museum collection reflecting the life of the Cook family has also begun. In 2017, a Renaissance marble relief of the Virgin and Child returning to the palace was created, formerly part of the Francis Cooke collection.

Today, the Monserrate Palace Portugal and Park are popular tourist attractions with their unique architecture and rich history. Walking along the winding paths of the parks, visitors can enjoy a variety of plants from around the world and feel the romantic spirit that permeates these places. 

Montserrat offers a unique combination of history, architecture and nature, creating the perfect setting for visiting Sintra. Don’t forget to take Villa Monserate Park photos for the best memories.