Fun things to do in Sintra

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Officially named Mosteiro de Santa Cruz da Serra da Sintra, Capuchos Convent is a historical convent from the 16th century it embodies the ideal of fraternity and universal brotherhood inherent in the values of the Franciscan monks who lived there.
Once there you can image how life was there. It's a very green an unique spot.

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This is truly an amazing palace from the time of Romanticism in the 19th century and considered the most important part of the Cultural Landscape of Sintra’s World Heritage site.

Our bus reached this castle after going up a mountain which was dotted with amazing houses which I think were houses made by those who were close to the royals. You can see that those houses are well-maintained as workers can be seen tending to the expensive gardens.

And when you reach the palace itself, you will want to take so many pictures but, alas, you are not permitted to take any pictures within the palace but there are patios where you will be allowed to takes amazing outside pictures of the palace and the surrounding hills/mountains.

The interior of the palace is surprisingly very cozy and very family-oriented. Apparently, the royal couple had a lot of kids (eleven?) and so you can just imagine them going around the rooms. Definitely not as grandiose a palace as Versailles, but this palace has a certain family character to it.

I also remember seeing an amazing tea room with teak décor from India was a favorite room of the Queen, The kitchen which they used for special occasions also was filled with copper pots - but there is smaller kitchen used when there is no palace occasion.

Also, as you are driving around the area, try to see if you can spot in the distance the Moorish castle with its chess-like torres – a fortification from the 8th century.

Entrance: 11 Euros

May 1 – Sept 15
Park 0930- 8PM
Palace 0945-7PM (last admission 0630 PM)

Dept 16 – Apr 30
Park 10 AM- 6PM
Palace10 AM to 530 PM (last admission 445 PM)

www.parquesdesintra.pt

Portugal is located in the most western part of Europe facing the sea that was always the exit and in a certain way a dream for the Portuguese, eager to discover far away lands and in a certain way with the backs turned to Europe where war and many menaces always came. It was through that sea that the boats filled with spices came in the XVI century, the gold in the XVIII century and people emigrated to far places throughout the centuries.

Cabo da Roca, reflects all that. It is the westernmost point in Europe, a cape in the top of the cliff with the rough and threatening sea hitting the rocks below. A final extent of Sintra Mountain a land of mist, forest, enchanted Moorish princesses’ hanting the roads and fairy tale palaces hidden amongst the trees. In the V B.C. it is believed it was called the Serpent promontory while Ptolomeu called it the Moon Promontory.
Luis de Camões the famous Portuguese poet said of this place “here where the land ends and the sea begins”.

Cabo da Roca is today a very nice place to visit with a beautiful XVIII century lighthouse, part of a beautiful natural park where around there are many beaches. In this salted and windy part of the country there are many plants blooming. One of them, is the endemic and endangered Armeria pseudarmeria that gives beautiful flowers.

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This is one of the most mystically looking places in Sintra. Localized deep in the mountain, this is a Franciscan Convent from the XVI century. Here you can find out about how they lived and what they did in a worthy guided visit.

To get there if you don’t have a car you can take a bus from the city (weekends only in winter months)

Budget tip: You can buy combined tickets example Capucho’s Convent and Pena’s Palace.

Beach is not one of the priorities for those visiting Sintra, but for more than the usual short visit, it is a considerable alternative, to mix with the many appealing visits in the area.

Praia Grande is the biggest ("grande") beach, and a nice place to rest after the hard walk across the city and many parks.

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Located just to the west of the Sintra National Palace beside the main tourist information office, this church was originally built in the Romanesque style, probably dating from the second half of the 12th century. It was then substituted in the reign of Dom Dinis (13th century) by a Gothic church, as confirmed by the stone plaque of Margarida Fernandes (1334). It underwent small restorations during the Renaissance and Mannerist periods before succumbing to damage the 1755 earthquake. It was then rebuilt, keeping its 18th century features.

Located on the road that leads to the Santa Maria Church and Moorish Castle, this fountain is medieval in origin, but reconstructed in the late eighteenth century. It is known for the medicinal qualities of its water, which springs from two spouts in the form of breasts. There is a local saying that anyone who drinks Sabuga water will never forget Sintra.

Located in the old quarter of the town centre by following some backstreets uphill, this fountain existed at least as long ago as the 14th century, but its present form was given to it in 1787. It is known for its spout which has the configuration of a wine pipe.