A must-see
in Sintra
No more
than 30 kilometres
away from Lisbon,
you will find Sintra, a charming town that you should definitely visit during
your time in the Portuguese capital, especially if you’re looking for a little
romantic getaway. Celebrated for its artists, writers and poets such as Lord
Byron, and preferred summer destination by the monarchy and nobles in the old
days, Sintra has a special appeal and a great wealth of monuments.
In addition
to its romantic and fantastic architecture, it is immersed in lush greenery in
the Sintra Mountain Range – Cascais and surrounded by beautiful coastlines. Its
almost magical atmosphere and its features have made it a National Heritage
Site, and it has become a popular tourist destination, which you cannot miss
out on.
Although
Sintra is worth more than a few hours visit, we would just like to share with
you the places you should definitely visit if you are only going to this
charming town for a day. Set an early morning alarm and put on your most
comfortable shoes because there’s a lot to see and it’s going to be a busy day.
The most
iconic monuments in the town are its palaces and castles, little treasures
dotted around the green landscape, which immerse you in a dream and mystical
world. We especially recommend that you visit the following:
Pena National Palace: Situated in Monte de Lua (Hill of the Moon), it was
built in 1836 by order of Prince Fernando II of Portugal. With its pink and yellow
façades combining diverse architectural styles, it looks like something from a
fairytale. It is divided into four sections; the outer walls, the Convent, the
Arches Yard and the palatial zone. You will need at least an hour and a half to
enjoy a nice, relaxed visit of the palace.
Quinta de
Regaleria estate: Shrouded in mystery, and irresistible to romantics and fans
of the unknown. Augusto
Carvalho Monteiro, who was in possession of a considerable fortune which he made
in Brazil,
ordered it to be built at the beginning of the XX century, with symbols related
to alchemy and masonry. It is a beautiful ensemble, with lush gardens that hide
sculptures, grottos, an initiation well, lakes and towers.
Sintra National Palace:
Also known as the Town
Palace, with its enormous
twin chimneys, its unmistakeable silhouette is one of the symbols of the town. Built
in the XVI century, it currently belongs to the State and it is used as a
cultural centre where exhibitions are usually held.
If you have any time left in the town, we suggest
that you also visit Monserrate Palace, one of the best examples of Romantic art in Portugal with
domes and exotic decorations. We also recommend that you visit Castle of the
Moors, built by the Arabs in the VIII century, Capuchos Convent and the toy
Museum. A few kilometres away you will also find Cabo da Roca, the westernmost
point of Europe and for centuries considered the end of the world, with some
beautiful cliffs bordering the Atlantic.
Practical
information:
Directions:
To go there from Lisbon
by car, get on to the IC-19 road and follow the signs.
The journey
to Sintra by train lasts about 40 minutes and the tickets are quite cheap. You
can take the line heading to Sintra from various stations: Roma-Areeiro, Entrecampos, Sete Rios, Campolide or
Rossío. At the train station there is a
tourist information point and the bus operators that manage the area, Scotturb.
- Tourist bus 434 will take you to Pena Palace
and the Castle of the Moors.
- Bus 435 will take you to theQuinta de Regaleria estate, Montserrate Palace
and the Seteais Palace. In addition, Quinta de Regaleria
is just 10 minutes away from the town centre, by Seteais road if you fancy a
walk.
- Bus
403 will take you to Cascais and the Cabo da Roca.
For more
information on opening times, prices and other activities in the town, you can
visit the Cámara Municipal de Sintra website.
Laura - Marketing Team