Beautiful Place Near Lisbon – Sintra Castle and Other Places You Must Visit
Sintra is a picturesque town that boasts extravagant palaces, ancient castles, like Sintra Castle, and other stunning scenery. It is only 25km from Lisbon, and you can easily arrive there by a regular train service. Having this mean of transport, makes the town ideal for a day trip. The town is also famed for its Romanticism style of architecture. There are numerous fine examples of this elaborate and decorative construction type, found throughout the hills of the Serra da Sintra national park. It has approximately 380.000 inhabitants over an estimated area of 319.23 km². According to Sintra City Hall, this municipality is the second most populous in Portugal.
Castle of the Moors
Set high on the Serra de Sintra, Castleo dos Mouros (Moorish Castle)Â is the towns oldest monument. The ruined ramparts of this ancient castle hug the hilltop, spanning two of its highest pinnacles and incorporating the rocky outcrops into its walls. This castle is a fortress built in around the 10th century after the Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula. All along the paths encircling the castle, you can admire spectacular views over a unique landscape. From there you can admire the town centre, the Palace of Sintra, the Palace of Pena and, the vast plains to the north and the Atlantic Ocean. The Castelo dos Mouros is one of the three classic sights seen in a typical day trip to Sintra.
Photo by Julia Solonina on Unsplash
Palácio da Pena Sintra
The Palacio Nacional da Pena is one of the finest tourist attractions in Portugal. It exemplifies the 19th century Romanticism style of architecture. The interior of the Pena Palace is equally as fascinating, and it reflects the decor in 1910. Surrounding the Palacio da Pena are forested grounds, which continue the design ideals of Romanticism, with hidden pathways, mystical ornaments and stunning vistas. The Palácio da Pena is one of the world’s most magnificent palaces. This is the reason why millions of tourists flock to Sintra each year. Keep in mind that you can expect it to be incredibly busy during your visit, especially in the peak season.
Photo by Julia Solonina on Unsplash
The Palacio Nacional de Sintra
You can find the Palacio Nacional de Sintra at the centre of Sintra. The palace has a gothic exterior and is distinctive due to the two huge coned chimneys that extend from the palace’s kitchens. This medieval palace was a favourite with the Portuguese nobility. Being in continuous use from the 15th century through to the 19th century, making it the most used royal residence of Portugal. Before deciding on the places you want to visit in Sintra, make sure you check out the local travel guides, in order to make the best decision!
Photo by Pedro Santos on Unsplash
Enjoy your trip!