Considered one of the most delightful towns in Portugal and indeed in Europe, Sintra is a true treasure for the senses. It was known in ancient times as Mons Lunae (the Hills of the Moon), because of its strong traditions in astral cults. It still counts on nemerous beautiful monuments and archaeological remains, so it was declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Sintra is a magical place where nature and man come together in a perfect symbiosis, like a garden of earthly paradise.
It is a tourist region. Many people are drawn by the cultural heritage of the town itself. The tourist potentialities of Sintra also include the three National Palaces – Palácio da Pena, Palácio da Vila and Palácio de Queluz, in addition to some municipal museums. It also includes winegrowing, the quarries producing marble, the traditional confectionery and gastronomy and the handicraft workshops.
Sintra enjoys an unusual geography, with a unique combination of parks, gardens and beautiful castles. From the train station, the villa is a 15 minute walk away. Once in the villa, everything is a real gem: every corner, every medial narrow street. There is a wonderful Toy Museum and lots of craft shops, delicious restaurants and local pastry shops. Not to be missed is the beautiful Jardins de Monserrate for the huge variety of exotic trees and subtropical plants. Included on the list of places to see must also be the palaces of Seteais and Monserrate. The Moorish Castle dates from the 8th century, is a mandatory stop, too.
There are some interesting churches in the town: the 12th Century Igreja de Santa Maria, as well as several private palaces that are open to the public: the Palácio de Seteais, a magnificent 18th Century home transformed into a five star Hotel; Casa dos Ribafrias, a 16th Century building; Quinta de Pena Verde, another 16th Century palace, and the Palácio de Monserrate, built in the 19th Century. Don’t miss the Convento dos Capuchos as it will not fail to impress you.
There are also very interesting museums to visit: the Museu Regional, which shows the area’s history; the Casa Museu Leal de Câmara, which shows the Palace’s art works; the Casa Museu Dorita Castel Branco, Museu de Arte Moderna and the Galeria de Arte Municipal among others.
Sintra lies along a beautiful coast and you can enjoy its fine beaches all year round due to its mild temperatures. Take the first train to Sintra and rent Lisbon Apartments for the best stay. As Robert Southey once said: “Sintra is the most blessed place of all the habitable world”.
