Portugal offers a lot of places to visit and discovers the beauty. Sintra is one of the most visited place in portugal. Sintra is the town located in 30 kilometres west of lisbon in the centre of portugal. Sintra, a UNESCO heritage site since 1995 is best known for the home to ancient castles,extravagant palaces and beautiful natural scenery.This essay explores the multifaceted beauty of Sintra, unveiling its natural wonders, architectural marvels, cultural richness, and the ethereal atmosphere that has captivated poets, nobles, and travelers for centuries.
How to get to Sintra:
The ways to go to Sintra is by Bus or by Train. The cheapest and more fast way is by train.The train leaves from Rossio train station in downtown lisbon once or twice per hour. Trains also depart from other parts of Lisbon but Rossio is the most suitable station for visitors. It takes about 45 minutes to reach Sintra. Once you arrived in Sintra train station, you have many other options to move around the town. You can take either Taxi , a Bus or Tuk Tuk.
Best Places to visit in Sintra:
1. Quinta Da Regaleira:
It lies in the outskirts of Sintra’s historic centre. It is very easily walkable from train station. It takes about 30 minutes to walk there while getting the nice view of the town. Quinta Da Regaleira was mainly designed by Italian architect “Luigi Manini” in late 1800s. You can walk around the romantic palace, a chapel and a lush park that features the famous initiatic well as well as towers. This property has the most explanted and mysterious garden holding fountains,Towers,lakes,Tunnels,mazes. The gardens are very peaceful full of greenery flowers and birds everywhere. It will be more peaceful if you visit in the morning as there will be less crowds.
2. National Palace of Pena:
The history of this palace goes back to the 12th century when a little chappel was one of the few things presents on this mountain. King Manuel the first of Portugal ordered the construction of monastery in its place and this is the start of long history. The end of drywalling of the palace occurred in 1854. With countless sources of inspiration and different architectural styles from Romanticism, neo gothic, neo romanesque along with other oriental styles such as neo morris and Hindu gothic, making the palace a beauty to observe. Although this is one of the most visited place in Portugal, it i will be full of tourists but it is must visit place in Sintra.
3. Moorish Castle:
Moorish palace lies in the hill next to the Pena Palace. This medieval castle was rebuilt and restored after being conquered by portuguese from Muslim. Already in disuse, the castle was very affected by the earthquake that occurred in 1755 which caused the collapse of some of the walls and towers but later it was restored in 1839. From the walls of castle you can have a stunning view of the whole mountain. You need to prepared for the challenges because there is lot of stairs to walk with a lot of wind.
4. National Sintra Palace:
National Sintra Palace was rebuilt in 15th century. The palace was used by Portuguese Royal family over the generations and over that period of time,the palace restored and modified which reflects new features and architectural aspects. This palace has got stunning furnitures, architect and paintings and incredibly designed rooms. It is located in the centre of village so you don’t have to walk to the mountains to see it.
5. The Sanctuary of Peninha:
The Sanctuary of Peninha is located 488 metres above the sea level. The history Sanctuary is connected with an old legend. It was constructed around the the time of 17th century, although it’s known that a small Chapel was present in 12th century. At the moment the Chapel is closed for the visitors but you can still visit the property and the extended view over the Atlantic Ocean.
6. Garden and Palace of Monserrate:
The history of Palace of Monserrate goes way back to 1540 with a small Chapel but later in 19th century it was built like this gorgeous palace. Its architectural signature reveals oriental and eclectic style with gothic accents. The extensive history can be discovered while visiting the palace. The park has 33 hectares with different gardens having plants from all over the world.
7. Capuchos Covent:
Capuchos Covent lies in the middle of the Sintra mountain. It was built in the 1650 but was abandoned later in 1834 with the end of religious orders in portugal. The Covent was taken over by nature in the following years. It was acquired by Portuguese government in 1949. This place doesn’t receive many visitors or tourists because of the location. It is very quiet and peaceful in the middle of beautiful woods of Sintra.
8. Ursa Beach:
Ursa Beach is also one the best attraction of Sintra. You need to get prepared for hiking for about 10 to 15 minutes on the beautiful cliffs on Ursa beach. The view from cliff will be very stunning. The way are pretty rough but it will be worth watching after reaching the destination.
9. Cabo Do Roca:
The main attraction of Cabo da Roca is the lighthouse but it is not open for the public and the visitors but the stunning part is the surrounding area. Cabo Da Roca is also mainly known for the furthest western tip of the European Continent. You can walk along the cliffs having the stunning view of sunset and also the view of Atlantic ocean.
Conclusion:
Sintra’s natural beauty is a testament to the harmonious dance between earth and climate. Sintra is a realm where nature, history, and imagination coalesce. Its palaces rise like mirages from the mist, its forests whisper ancient secrets, and its stones hold the weight of centuries. More than a collection of sights, Sintra is a journey into enchantment, a place where every path leads to wonder.
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