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If they told you that during Your trip to Portugal You will arrive at a place that will look like a set that the production company Dreamworks built for one of its movies, you probably wouldn't believe it. It is hard to imagine a place where so many characteristics of a folk tale are concentrated, starting with colorful palaces, a dark castle and a lighthouse, and ending with mesmerizing landscapes, an ancient wall and mysterious gardens. All these and more are hiding a short drive west to Lisbon, in a small town called Sintra, which in recent years has become a center of attraction for quite a few tourists from all over the world, including from Israel of course.
You will find Sinatra after about forty minutes of a leisurely drive from Lisbon towards the west coast of Portugal, and you will probably soon fall under its spell. This assumption is based on the fact that this town, with its inherent wonders, was and is a magnet and a source of inspiration for multitudes of artists, creators and poets. Prepare your legs, because you are going to walk a lot (and enjoy it). Here we will try to summarize some of the attractions that can be found in Sintra, but keep in mind that this is a place that can be explored in depth, and for many a one-day trip will not be enough. Don't be shy to wander the ancient streets and alleys or spend a lot of time on the Moorish wall, soaking up the magical atmosphere and rich history of Sinatra.
The reason this category includes these two topics, which are usually related to each other, is that in Sintra the connection between the two is even tighter than usual. If buildings you will see on a trip to most destinations in the world will outline the general outline of the place and the people who passed through it, then in Sintra the buildings themselves are the place, they are the story. For hundreds and thousands of years, armies, merchants, kingdoms and the masses of the people passed through here, leaving their mark on the town through the craft of construction.
One of the most famous palaces in Sintra, in Portugal, and probably in the whole world. It was built by Antonio Augusto Carvalho Monteiro nee Regalera, a wealthy man in mid-nineteenth century Brazil, who bought it from the viscount (title of nobility) nee Regalera. He built his fortune by trading in coffee and precious stones, and channeled a large part of it to the construction of this magnificent palace, built in a romantic style. He designed the palace in a way that would fit the themes that fascinated him at the time, which were the Freemasons, knights and more.
The palace is actually built from a central structure, where life was conducted there, from a church adjacent to it and from the beautiful and well-kept park that surrounds it. This park is full of vegetation, lakes and hidden corners that will take you back to the Grimm brothers' fairy tales. The park is the place to witness Monteiro's distinct and somewhat unique personality up close. Another example of this is that below the surface of the earth you will find an entire world, as Monteiro has built here a branching network of tunnels and caves that can confuse even the best sense of direction. In addition, in the park area there are two waterless wells, in which there is a well-designed staircase, leading to the earth's thickener (the wells are also known as "initiation wells" - Initiation Wells). These spaces were used in the past for various religious rituals.
Quinta da Regalera is so unusual in landscape, even in Portugal's world full of marvelous architecture, that it was declared a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1995.
Pena Palace is the integrated realistic embodiment of the palace from the movies of Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast and probably a few more. Its colors are a feast for the eyes and the landscape, its elevation on the top of the hill makes it clear that it knows its place, and its heavy fortifications will remind you of the war-torn history of the area. When you see it, you will understand why it was recently listed as one of the "Seven Wonders of Portugal".
Pena Palace was built by King Ferdinand II, in 1838, on the ruins of a monastery that stood there before and collapsed. It includes a wide variety of construction styles, including Moorish, Renaissance and more. Even for those who are not skilled in the faucets of architecture, the fact that the building combines a multitude of styles is evident to the eye. It was originally built as a summer palace for the royal family, and the best craftsmen of the time were hired to fill its walls with frescoes. The view from the palace, located on top of a mountain and overlooking the valley, will probably be one of the most beautiful you will see on the trip, if not in life. The palace is also surrounded by a wide variety of trees from all over the world, which were brought here especially by King Ferdinand II.
You can find the ruins of the castle built by the Moors (who conquered the area in the eighth century AD) on one of the northernmost hills of Sintra. Although the castle was built by the Moors, it was renovated and expanded even after the reconquest of the area by the Portuguese.
In addition to the castle, it will be hard for you to miss the impressive wall that was also built by the Moors. The wall winds its way along the hills surrounding the castle, which only adds to the general charm of the area. In addition, from each of the four towers integrated into the wall there is a spectacular view of both Sintra and the Atlantic Ocean. For those interested, you can still see the ruins of the Romanesque church here, with some of the frescoes that decorated it.
This palace is a little off the beaten path from the general palace area of Sinatra, which perhaps makes it even more special. Its location, hidden among the mountains surrounding the town, makes it a little less touristy, certainly compared to its other palaces. However, he does not fall from them at all. This magnificent palace is a wonderful reminder of the Moorish rule in the place, and you can spend hours in the park that surrounds it. Although the Moors did not build the place, its construction was greatly influenced by the Muslim styles they brought with them. The arches, the arabesques and the music room (to this day you can listen to a concert in it), all give the place a charm that you won't find in the other palaces.
The design of the place was done by Sir Francis Cooke, a nineteenth-century man who was ennobled by King Louis I. The park within which the sloping palace is located has a wide range of plants, man-made waterfalls, artificial reeds and a variety of animals.
Despite its distinguished status as the oldest palace in Sintra, the Sintra Palace lacks something of the architectural imagination that characterizes its neighbors. From the outside, it looks like a cross between a castle and a Viennese vacation home, and what will make you notice it from anywhere are the two cone-shaped towers that tower over it. However, you won't find a medieval palace in Portugal better preserved than the Palace of Sintra.
Since the palace served as a residence for royal families for centuries, starting in the 14th century and onward, it is no wonder that it contains a wonderful collection of styles and works of art. Each resident of the palace tried to stamp something of their own on it, which created a pleasant mixture of fingerprints. In this context, it is worth mentioning King Manuel I, under whose supervision most of the interior design that can be seen today was carried out. He lived at a time when artists tried to revive the Moorish spirit, which gave the interior design of the palace an ancient Muslim touch.
Although it is outside Sintra itself, Cavaloz belongs municipally to Sintra. For art lovers, this is a must visit site. Few know about the art style of the Rococo, which dominated Europe for a short time after the Baroque period. The National Palace, built in the middle of the 18th century, corresponds exactly to this period. It was built entirely in the Rococo period and in its style, a title that few buildings and works of art can be proud of.
Like other palaces in the area, this palace was also built as a summer residence by a noble family. It was built by the one who would later become King Consort, who gave it as a gift to his niece, Queen Maria I.
The well-styled palace boasts many paintings and frescoes inside, and magnificent baroque gardens outside. The canal leading water to the palace, one hundred meters long, is a masterpiece in itself. Blue and white tiles cover it and give it an unusual look.
The Capuchin order is a famous Christian order, whose members advocate a life of reduction and contentment with little. Churches and monasteries of this order can be found in many places in the world, including in Rome, the capital of Christianity. Most people don't know, but the cappuccino we drink every day is named after these monks, who wear a brown robe with a white belt.
A Capuchin monastery near Sintra seems to be at odds with everything that Sintra stands for, and indeed it is. The Capuchin monks who lived here from the sixteenth century to the mid-nineteenth century strongly opposed the flamboyant lifestyle that Sintra's residents led, and lived their lives as the antithesis of the somewhat hedonistic city. They lived in caves carved out of the mountain on the monastery's grounds, and subsisted on vegetables they grew themselves in the vegetable garden on its grounds.
As part of the tour, you can get an audio guide, who will guide you through the transition between the cells and the various buildings that were used by the monks throughout the centuries. Particularly special is the central courtyard, with the octagonal fountain in the center (which is still active today).
If you decided to sleep in Sintra, or if you arrived early in the morning (highly recommended), the best thing you can do is take a leisurely walk through the alleys of the old town center. As the sun progresses in its path in the sky, Sinatra becomes a noisy whirlwind of tourists, and then you will no longer be able to enjoy the peace that the old town offers.
Walking on the stone-paved alleys you can feel the history of Sinatra, view the churches, houses and mansions that adorn it and in general, breathe the air before it is filled with the echo of thousands of tourists from all over the world. If you want, you can enter one of the many museums in the city.
If you are into it, Sinatra is also one of the ideal places to spend a night in a palace. Stays Palace is a hotel built in the middle of the eighteenth century, and preserves the design, manners and elegance of the years of its establishment. If you're willing to pay its high cost, you can feel for a night like the Sinatra nobles who rubbed shoulders with each other in spacious halls just like you'd find in the Stays Palace Hotel.
Sinatra was chosen again and again, both by the Moors and by the Portuguese aristocratic families - by the Moors it was chosen as a strategic destination, and by the aristocratic families as an ideal destination for vacationing in the summers of Portugal. Its proximity to the ocean, along with the abundance of surrounding vegetation, all make Sinatra a natural gem that is hard (and not worth it) to ignore. Here you can find routes (short and long), beaches and just walks with wonderful views.
In Sintra, nature is also spiced up with buildings, a lighthouse in this case. This is the westernmost point of Sintra, and in fact it is the westernmost point in mainland Europe. This lighthouse was placed precisely here, at the high point from which the land falls sharply into the water, to direct the ships that stray in the Atlantic Ocean. The hill rises to a height of about one hundred and forty meters above sea level.
From the lighthouse of Cabo de Roca you can watch stunning views, both of the ocean to the west and of Sintra to the east. This point is very important in the history of Europe, since it has been a landmark since the time of the Roman Empire. One can certainly imagine Hami Rodner's Empire soldier arriving here, looking down at the huge rocks and the waves crashing on them, and thinking he is at the end of the world.
If you like tracks, this is for you. This is one of the most beautiful walks in the area of Sintra, with such a spectacular view that even those who don't tend to walk will feel that the effort was worth it. With this walk you will reach the highest peak of Mount Sintra, which will actually bring you to the best vantage point of the area. The peak rises to a height of about 530 meters above sea level, so you will have a good view of the whole environment from it.
This is an amazing place from which to look at the Pena Palace mentioned above, with its multitude of turrets, towers and arches. In addition, you can watch from here both the ocean to the west, and Lisbon (on a good day), to the east.
There is no doubt that Orsa Beach is one of the most special beaches you will visit in your life. You can reach it together with the visit to Cabo de Roca that we mentioned earlier, since the dirt road leading to it departs from the road leading to the lighthouse.
This beach is very unique in the Atlantic Ocean. The huge rocks that border it, which look as if they were brought here especially and stand out decisively into the water, create a kind of breakwater that calms the storm of waves typical of the exciting Atlantic Ocean. This is a beach that is suitable for those who do not surf, and even for those who are not the most skilled at swimming, due to the strong effect of these rocks, which create a kind of calm water pocket. However, of course you have to be careful if you decide to enter the water, as the ocean is sometimes unpredictable.
Getting to the beach requires a bit of walking on a narrow and slightly steep path, so the access is not convenient for those with limited mobility. For those who can walk, however, this walk is almost negligible compared to the amazing scenery of this special beach.
Adraga Beach is right next to Ursa Beach, and it is also considered one of the best beaches in Portugal. It is located north of Ursa Beach, so the dramatic rock formations that border Ursa Beach are to the south of Adraga Beach. This is also the reason that Adraga Beach is a windier beach than Orsa Beach, so entering the water is only suitable for skilled surfers.
Adraga beach is more accessible, as vehicles can reach almost all the way to the beach itself. Walking along the beach and among the rocks is an extraordinary experience, and the presence of the lifeguard here throughout the summer gives peace of mind to those who do decide to step into the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.
For nature lovers, and also for those who just want to get out of the city atmosphere and explore the magical surroundings of Sintra, this is a must visit site. This valley, located at the foot of Pena Palace, is full of natural and artificial lakes immersed in an almost unreal green. In some of the lakes you will find buildings built over the years, some in Moorish style and some in other styles.
For those interested in a more serious route, you can also find those in the Valley of the Springs. Just make sure you take the necessary equipment, including water and comfortable shoes, as the topography of Sintra and its surroundings can be rough.
With Sinatra's rich history, it is no wonder that it is not considered the ideal destination for extreme enthusiasts. You will find almost no noisy and crowded attractions here, but mainly gentle and tasteful tourist experiences. These experiences will try to illustrate for you the life in the town, or at least educate you with the history of Portugal.
For those traveling with children, this can be the ultimate experience, as tours between large and cold halls of ancient palaces are often not among the experiences preferred by young tourists. This train, the Sintra Tram, was built at the beginning of the XNUMXth century and was designed to transport car- or buggy-free vacationers to the beach of Sintra. Its route stretches for more than eleven kilometers, and it leads passengers from the ancient center of the town to the beach of Macas (Praia das Macas).
Although today it is mostly full of tourists and children, in the past this track and the trains that ran on it formed a significant part of the city's transportation system. The cost of the trip is 3 euros, and it will take you about forty-five minutes to drive through beautiful scenery until you reach the beach of Macas.
For the adults among us who want a little change of atmosphere from all the museums, parks, landscapes and history, it is recommended to go to the Portuguese Air Force Museum located at the Sintra Air Force Base. The museum has existed for about fifty years, and displays an impressive variety of aviation tools and accessories from all the years.
This is a fascinating place for people of all ages, but for aviation enthusiasts the most significant experience will probably be boarding a Douglas C47 Dakota. This plane is considered one of the wonders of aviation, and is known for being one of the factors that helped the Allies win World War II. Boarding the plane is possible for visitors to the museum, but only accompanied by an air force member from the museum staff.
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