Sintra has become a major tourist attraction, with many day-trippers visiting from nearby Lisbon and Lisbon Coast resorts. Attractions include the fabulous Pena Palace (19th c.) and the Castelo dos Mouros (reconstructed 19th c.) with a breath-taking view of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, and the summer residence of the kings of Portugal Palácio Nacional de Sintra (largely 15th/16th c.), in the town itself. The Sintra Mountain Range, one of the largest parks in the Lisbon area, ( Serra de Sintra ) is also a major tourist attraction.
When one gets close to the city one starts to see the mountain: a volcanic block, surrounded by basaltic grounds, granitic and calcareous. The vegetation is exuberant and its beauty has always been an inspiration to the artists. The rocky tops are often surrounded by fog whereas, not very far away, the sun is shining. So there is often a difference in temperature between the Northern slope and the Southern slope. The mountain, and all the area surrounding it, (23.275 ha) became a protected area in 1981 because of the quite singular characteristics.
Sintra is located at the foot of the mountain, it was during centuries the preferred residence of kings and the vacation resort for all the noble families who had "quintas" there, splendid properties, or even very elegant palaces. In the 19th century, the Romantics selected it as the "romantic city by excellence", it became a source of meditation and inspiration for many Portuguese and foreign artists including the English Lord Byron, William Beckford, Southey.
Unesco designated Sintra and its neighbourhoods World heritage Site in 1995. People say that the magic of Sintra and the mystery that surrounds the mountain is amazing but too difficult to express. Sintra is a lovely typical town, where you can find marvellous little "corners", antique dealers, typical shops, restaurants, cafés...
In Sintra there are three parts: the old town where the royal palace is located, the more modern town (Estefânea), and S.Pedro where there is a market each 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month. This market has been going for over 100 years.
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Palácio Nacional de Sintra |
Castelo da Pena |
- Palácio Nacional de Sintra
It is the best preserved mediaeval Royal Palace in Portugal. Its origins go back to an Arab palace and its current aspect is due mainly to two phases of work.
The central part was built by king Jean 1st (at the beginning of the 15th century) and the remainder of it was built under the orders of king Manuel 1st who enriched the interior (during the 16th century). In this palace, there is the largest collection of "azulejos mudéjar" in the world, beautiful painted ceilings, pieces of furniture. The exterior is marked by the "manueline" style windows and by the two enormous chimneys that dominate the palace, ex libris of the town.
The palace of Sintra is closely related to several episodes of the history of Portugal and is often used today to hold classical music concerts, official receptions and other events.
- Castelo da Pena
A romantic palace built in the 1st half of the 19th century, located at the top of the Sintra mountain (529 m), and built by Ferdinand of Saxony - Cobourg and Gotha, on the ruins of a 16th century convent. Ferdinand II, husband of queen Maria I, was extremely cultured, and had a great artistic sensitivity. That's why he invited to be architects of the palace a Prussian engineer and a Portuguese architect. The romantic atmosphere is very present inside and the view from the palace balconies is splendid. At the foot of the palace you will find the Pena park, planted on order of the king, and his second wife. You will discover tree ferns, giant sequoias, camellias, fountains, the countess' country cottage, and astonishing sights.
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Castelo dos Mouros |
- La Cruz Alta (high cross) dominates the mountain with 540 M to get to the palace, you go by car to the entrance of the park, and then you have to walk during 25 mn up to the palace or take the small train. Parking is not always easy. The other solution is to leave your car at the bottom and take the bus from the town.
- The Moorish Castle
Before arriving at the Pena palace, it is on the same road, it was built on the spot where the old Arab fortress was conquered by the 1st king of Portugal Afonso Henriques after the conquest of Lisbon in 1147. The walls were restored, you can walk on the fortified wall tops for amazing panorama views of the area. The castle is part of the Cultural Landscape of Sintra.
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Now you have deserved a break, and you should try a Sintra speciality, the Queijadas, a kind of small cheese tart with cinnamon; and Travesseiros, cakes made with puff pastry and filled with jam. |
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Opening hours :
- Royal Palace : from 10:00 to 17:00. Closed Wednesday and the days of official ceremonies, as well as 01jan, 29jun, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, 01may and 25dec. Free on Sunday mornings and public holidays.
- Pena Palace : from 10:00 to17:00 (18:30 from 01jul to 15sep). Closed Monday and on 01jan, 29jun, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, 01may, and 25dec. Free on Sunday mornings and public holidays.
- Moorish Castle and Pena Park: from 10:00 to 17:00 (18:00 during the summer). Free access.
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