Mysterious town hidden in the heart of Portugal full of magnificent palaces that should be on your next destinations list

if you loved Royal; Aesthetics of fairy tales and historical mysteries, 25 kilometers from Lisbon there is a truly fascinating village that meets all these characteristics. Sintra. with declared monuments World HeritagePassengers passing through are assured that it is worth it. Even if you’re only going to spend a weekend in Portugal’s capital city, dedicate a day to it. And this place of characteristic architecture perfectly integrates palaces and gardens, castles and forests.

day trip

Sintra It is of Celtic origin, but in the 15th century it became a holiday home for Portuguese nobility and monarchs due to its hunting habitat. Thus, with its eccentric architecture and steep streets, it maintains a unique charm that makes it a place in the 21st century. An essential trip from Lisbon (only 25 kilometers from this to the west).

Also, both places are 40 minutes away by public transport, which is the best way to get there. And this narrow roads passing through the hills to this village they are not ready for mass tourism and parking is scarce in Sintra.

once there, most iconic monument It is the Palacio da Pena and while Sintra is worth a whole day, it is recommended to start with this palace if you don’t have much time to visit and want to go for the basics and basics.

Pena Palace

Surrounded by a forest park and picturesquely colored, Palacio da Pena looks like something straight out of a Disney movie. It is a romantic castle dating from 1854 as we know it today. receives thousands of visitors every year.

It is located on a hill and can be seen from Lisbon on clear days. A true national monument It mixes architectural styles such as neo-Gothic, neo-Manueline, neo-Romanesque, as well as other oriental styles such as neo-Moorish and Indo-Gothic.

One night at a hotel in Charm Inn Sintra

RRP in Kayak €80.00

Originally it was a medieval chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Pena. Later, King Manuel I ordered the construction of a monastery, which was donated to the Priory of St. Jerome. It was badly damaged in the great earthquake in Lisbon in the 18th century, but the chapel managed to survive without being destroyed in the slightest, and King of Portugal II, who decided to build the monastery and its surroundings. This surprised Fernando. Now we see how Pena Palace is, Listed as one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal.

Quinta da Regalia

Presumably, Quinta da Regaleria one of the most beautiful gardens in the world. There we can find underground caves, secret tunnels, fairy tale wells or heavenly waterfalls. Although its most remarkable point may be its mysterious wells. The so-called Initiatic Well is believed to represent the transition from death (the lower part where the Marble Temple cross is located) to reincarnation (exit) and was used for Masonic rituals.

Other notable castles What to see in Sintra they are the Montserrate Palace; King II. Chalet de la Condesa, built by Ferdinand to live a love story with Elise Hensler, the Countess d’Edla and his future wife, and Castelo dos Mouros, built by the Arabs in the 9th century on a massif and surrounded by forests.

Although most tourists to Sintra head directly to the most famous palaces, it is also worth spending a few hours. Walk the steep streets of the historic city centerIt is full of craft and souvenir shops. If you have time, it is also recommended to take a walk in the Nature Park surrounding the city and enjoy the most typical dishes of Portuguese cuisine (bacalhau à brás or desserts such as queijadas and traveseiros).

Flight Madrid-Lisbon

RRP in Kayak €60.00

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Photos | istock