The town of Sintra has a touch of mysticism, due to the mountains, formerly known as Serra da Lua or Monte Sagrado. Monte da Lua is one of those places full of magic and mystery where nature and man came together in such a perfect symbiosis that UNESCO classified it as a World Heritage Site.
When visiting Sintra be sure to…
- eat a “queijada” and a “travesseiro”
- stroll around the village
- climb the mountain by “charrete” carriage
- enjoy the view of Pena Palace
- take a walking tour
We recommend the following Itinerary for one day
Morning
You can start in the historic center with a wonderful breakfast.
In the main square, you will find the Palácio da Vila from the end of the 14th century, a summer resort for many kings throughout the history of Portugal. Inside you will find a true tile museum, with applications dating back to the 19th century. XVI.
You can stroll through the narrow streets and visit the shops selling regional products, but then a visit to the Palácio and Quinta da Regaleira is a must. It’s a 17th century palace. XIX, which had an impressive decoration, rich in Masonic symbolism. Near the entrance to Regaleira, there is the Palácio dos Seteais, from the 17th century. XVIII which has currently been transformed into a hotel. We recommend that you come in and visit the beautiful gardens and the viewpoint, from where you can see the Pena Palace, the Castelo dos Mouros and the sea in the distance…
But before climbing the mountain, you can have lunch at a good restaurant in the town or, if you prefer, have a picnic at Parque dos Castanheiros, a picnic park whose entrance is halfway along the Volta do Duche.
Afternoon
The afternoon can be dedicated to getting to know the mountains and discovering the charms and corners of a wonderful natural landscape that is a World Heritage Site.
You can visit the botanical refuge of Parque da Pena, and pass by the Countess D’Edla’s Chalet and go up to the Palace that Richard Strauss, which he nicknamed the “Castle of the Holy Grail”, is mandatory to pass by the Castle of the Moors, testimony to the Islamic presence in the region, between the 8th and 9th centuries..
Right at the top you will find one of the most romantic palaces in Portugal, the Palácio Nacional da Pena, a sacred jewel that crowns the Serra de Sintra, an eternal work of D. Fernando II, King-Artist, which opens doors to everyone’s imagination, with the its idyllic setting, often enveloped in the characteristic fog of the Sintra mountains. It seems like something out of a fairy tale, a stunning place that makes every generation of those who pass by dream dream.
When you go down to the village again, if you didn’t do it in the morning, you can now delight yourself and taste the famous cheesecakes and pillows, specialties of choice for a late afternoon in a dreamy place.
And still…
You can also visit Monserrate Park, with its exotic neo-Gothic palace, and the Convento dos Capuchos, built in the 17th century. XVI using cork as covering for small spaces, following the poverty precepts of the Order of Saint Francis of Assisi, contrasting with the wealth of the palaces. About two km from the convent you will find Peninha, one of the highest points in the mountains and, on the way to the coast, it is worth visiting the Archaeological Museum of São Miguel de Odrinhas, with an important epigraphic collection dating back more than two thousand years…
In the months of July and August, you can attend the classical music and ballet shows of the Sintra Festival, which take place at the Sintra and Pena Palaces and at the Olga de Cadaval Cultural Center.
Heading towards Lisbon, it is worth stopping at the National Palace of Queluz, whose French “rocaille” style of the 19th century palace. XVIII dazzles anyone. In the palace gardens, we can watch an exhibition of the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art and the qualities of Lusitanian horses.
