Discovering Portugal: the Sintra region

May 6, 2017

Since our stay in Portugal in April, time has flown between our participation in various events(including a meeting with a secretary of state of the Portuguese government and the 30th anniversary celebration of the Portuguese Cultural Association of Strasbourg), the organization of our conference on real estate investment in Portugal, and finally taking the time to write a new article

I’ve decided to dedicate this new article to Sintra! This town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, and well-deserved too. I’ve heard so much about Sintra and seen so many wonderful photos that my husband and I decided to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary there… What a good choice! If you love greenery, nature and discovery, you’re in for a real treat.

1. Sintra in a nutshell

Sintra is a pretty Portuguese town known for its many tourist attractions: palaces, castles and parks to visit

You’ll need at least 3 days if you want to see it all:

Castle of the Moors
Pena National Palace
Sintra National Palace
Quinta da Regaleira
Seteais Palace
Monserrate Palace
Capuchin Convent
Queluz Royal Palace

Two of Sintra’s main monuments, the Moorish Castle and the Pena National Palace, as well as the town itself, date back to the Muslim era. Architectural styles blend together: Romanticism, Moorish, Baroque, Renaissance. A feast for the eyes. The town lies amidst the green hills of the Serra da Sintra National Park. It’s thanks to this micro-climate that the Sintra region is so green and pleasant to visit

Sintra et sa verdure

View from Sintra’s National Palace

Since we only had one day to visit, we had to make a choice: Palacio Nacional da Pena and Castelo dos Mouros

2. First impressions and program for the day

First impression on arrival in downtown Sintra: “Yeah, it’s too touristy! Well, we chose to go on Easter weekend. I think it’s more pleasant out of season. But that was my^1st impression, and it quickly changed as we left the city to discover the Palacio Nacional da Pena (National Palace of Punishment) and the Castelo dos Mouros (Castle of the Moors). In true sportsman fashion, we decided to do this tour on foot, in hiking mode!

But before that, we promised Liliane we’d help her organize a day in Sintra for a group of 50 senior citizens. For the record, Liliane contacted me through Facebook, explaining her project to enable people on low pensions to go on vacation. Liliane and her project touched me deeply, so we decided to help her by finding out what tourist attractions were feasible for disabled people or those with mobility problems, and by negotiating attractive rates.

It’s worth noting that the town of Sintra does its utmost to ensure that disabled people and those with mobility problems can visit as many sites as possible. The sites provide wheelchairs or assistive devices in difficult areas. Just let them know in advance of your arrival and they’ll make the necessary arrangements. We were very well received.

Our mission accomplished, we set off for a few hours’ hike to discover the Palace and its garden and the Moorish Castle. In Sintra, even if the sun is shining, there’s always a bit of a breeze, which makes our walk pleasant, even if it’s still quite sporty! Yes, it’s uphill..

la région de Sintra

On foot, it’s a short climb to the Chateau des Maures

3. Palacio de Pena

I simply adored this palace, its architecture blending different styles (Moorish, Baroque, Gothic, Renaissance and Manueline) and its exuberant colors. Whether it’s the monument itself or the interior, there’s so much to discover! I felt like a kid, running around, climbing the towers, peering through the loopholes and imagining myself dining in that magnificent dining room…our childlike souls are still in there somewhere (well, mine for sure!).

la région de Sintra

And then there’s the more grown-up, thoughtful side that notes the hard, detailed and incredible work put into this beautiful building and its furnishings. It’s a far cry from the sober, linear and standardized Ikea style of chipboard. Here, you could feel the aged wood, the taste for meticulous, detailed work and the soul in each of these pieces of furniture. We’re in a different era now, and styles change, so it’s important to remember that. Even if you haven’t or won’t experience it as I have, it’s a palace worth visiting.

la région de Sintra

The views are breathtaking and impressive, you can see the Atlantic coast and the Tagus! We were up high, and I have to admit that I wasn’t always at peace. The bravest of us were standing on the walls or sitting with our feet dangling in the air to take our picture – as you can imagine, I wasn’t one of those people. But that didn’t stop us from taking some great photos

la région de Sintra

4. Castelo dos Mouros

The Pena Palace is located opposite the Moorish Castle, and these two monuments are often visited one after the other, so that’s what we did. From the entrance to the Pena Palace, we only had to walk 200 m to find ourselves in front of the entrance to the Château des Maures

la région de Sintra

The Château des Maures, as its name suggests, was built in the 9th century by the Moors of the Maghreb. Its purpose was to keep watch over the town of Sintra, and it was abandoned after the Portuguese conquest. It wasn’t until the 19th century that King Ferdinand II decided to restore it, giving us superb views of the green forests and the Sintra region. Thanks to King Ferdinand, without whom we wouldn’t have the joy of walking on these ramparts and enjoying these panoramic views.

la région de Sintra

You can see the hills of the Serra de Sintra and the plains stretching all the way to the Atlantic Ocean – it’s an exceptional sight! On these high, fortified stone walls and ramparts, we feel like warriors protecting our town

5. A meal in the historic center of Sintra to round off the day.

After all that walking, we’d really earned a good meal! We found a very nice spot in the center of Sintra where we enjoyed some delicious typical Portuguese dishes

la région de Sintra

As we wandered through the narrow streets of Sintra, I loved the atmosphere and the many stores to visit – it’s really great!

la région de Sintra

These two days were a real expedition in adventure and discovery mode. I really recommend a visit. I still have a lot to discover in the Sintra region, but that’s for another time. And how did you experience your visits to Sintra?