Parques de Sintra, a public company that manages several cultural facilities in Sintra, revealed that conservation and restoration work will be carried out on the tile coverings in the Arab Room, in the Chamber of D. Afonso VI and in the Gruta dos Banhos, next to the central courtyard.

A source from the company explained to Lusa news agency that the first phase of intervention begins in April, with a diagnosis of the state of conservation of the tiles in those three spaces, but also to check the central fountain in the Arab Room, the stucco ceilings and stone arches in the Gruta dos Banhos and the mosaic floor in the Chamber of D. Afonso VI, which is the oldest part of the building.

The areas to be worked on will be closed to the public, but visitors can see the works in progress at the sites while taking the exhibition route inside the building, said the same source.

As part of this project, workshops will also be held for technicians from Parques de Sintra and students from the Professional School for Heritage Recovery in Sintra and for international experts in the conservation and restoration of tile heritage, and an international seminar is planned.

The Sintra National Palace is located in the historic center of Sintra, in one of the areas most visited by tourists, distinguished by the two white chimneys of the former royal kitchen.

The building is part of the Sintra Cultural Landscape, registered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, and the first document attesting to the existence of a palace on the site dates back to 1281, during the reign of D. Dinis, as can be read on the official Parques de Sintra website.