Sintra is a mountainous city in the west of Portugal and the continent as a whole. It is located near Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of Eurasia. People interested in how to get from Lisbon to Sintra won’t spend much time reaching it either, as the capital is also within the range of 23 kilometers. You can travel by car or train from the local station. Not many inhabitants in Sintra – 377 thousand people live in the municipality of 319.2 km². Over one million travelers visit this region on the Atlantic coast every year.
In the 11th century AD, on one of the hills of the Iberian Peninsula, the warlike Moors built a fortress, captured a few decades later by the first king of ancient Portugal, Afonso Henriques. On the order of the great ruler, in 1154, the Cathedral of St. Peter was built in the walls of this fortress, so 1154 is considered the official date of the founding of the city of Sintra.
For 7 centuries, Sintra was the home of Portuguese monarchs, so the city had many beautiful castles, ancient cathedrals, fortresses, and other architectural monuments. This place became even more majestic in the 19th and 20th century, when due to the less hot climate than in other parts of Portugal, representatives of the elite began to move here, everywhere building it up with luxurious villas.
Sintra’s main attractions include Quinta da Regaleira, Pena Palace, the Castle of the Moors, the National Palace of Sintra and Montserrat.
The palace and park complex is considered Sintra’s most mystical attraction. The estate features a Gothic four-story palace, an unusual park, a Roman Catholic chapel, mysterious tunnels, and a “well of initiation.” The complex is an eclectic and revivalist architectural ensemble with special emphasis on the Manuelino, Renaissance, Medieval, and Classicist styles.
Pena is a real pride of Portugal, a unique castle built in 1840. The total area of the palace and park complex is 270 hectares, and the height of the mountain on which it is built reaches 400 meters. It was built as a summer residence for the Portuguese royal family. From the terraces of the Pena Palace, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city and take the most beautiful photos of Sintra.
The history of Sintra begins from this place – a fortress that the Moors erected in the 11th century. The thousand-year-old castle was then strategically positioned to protect both the surrounding area and the sea access routes to the city of Lisbon. Artifacts found at the site show how, between the walls and the surrounding areas, the population lived in the area now called the Islamic Quarter.
Over the years, the castle has survived a lot: it was a refuge for Portuguese, Jews and Spaniards, it was completely destroyed by the French army and rebuilt, replacing the medieval style with Romanesque. The castle of the Moors is located at an altitude of 420 meters and has an area of over 12 thousand square kilometers.
- National Palace of Sintra
The attraction is the result of architectural developments spanning many different eras. Until the 18th century, this place was also the center of economic and judicial administration of the region. In addition, the palace is a social environment. Here, the monarchy met with the nobility foreign ambassadors and local authorities. The main feature of the attraction is its unusual halls decorated with different images.
An exotic villa adorns the outskirts of the city of Sintra. Built five centuries ago, it is one of Portugal’s most famous Romanesque landmarks and is strikingly decorated. The villa is surrounded by a huge park with 3000 plants, which in 2013 was awarded the title of the best historical garden on the planet.
