Sintra
Town of Sintra ( Mountain of the Moon)
Lord Byron made this town famous by referring to it as a glorious Eden. After
our first visit to it, it was easy to understand why. Sintra hasn't lost its
charm to this day.
Got there by using the commuter train from the
station at the Rossio station that is located at the bottom of the Avenida da
Liberdade. The Rossio station is quite a place in itself. You ride up a
series of escalators to get to the ticket area. Then when you walk out into the
area where the trains are you are in large cathedral area -- very
interesting
They have extremely nice trains that
get you to Sintra in about an hour. The trains leave from the Rossio station
four times an hour. After you exit the tunnel you will see the
old aqueduct is still working bringing water to Lisbon. This
is the Águas Livres Aqueduct which was built in the 18th century,
withstood the earthquake and has been supplying the city with water ever since.
When you arrive at the station in Sintra, you can take a cab or easily walk to
the Palácio Nacional. Walk along the winding road past a beautiful
park into the center of old town (Palácio Nacional).
There are really three Sintra villages:
São Pedro de Sintra (the highest), Santa Maria (halfway up) and Sintra itself
(the lowest - the old town).
The Palácio Nacional a
twin-chimney building stands imposingly in the center of the town. The Palácio
has just been refurbished and is looking more magnificent than ever. This
14th Century site is a combination of Moorish and Gothic
architectural styles and was once the summer residence of the House of Avis,
Portugal's royal lineage.
Today it is a museum that has many fine things to
see. It is definitely worth taking the time to see. We took the tour through the
Palácio and it was very interesting
There are plenty of shops and restaurants in the square by the Palácio Nacional. We also had a nice time walking up and down the streets around the square looking in all the gift shops.
They also have horse drawn carriages for rent.
Perched on top of one of Sintra's hills is Pena Castle and it is a very beautiful site. It is built in 1840 Gothic style. If you don't have a car, you should take a cab to the Castle. It is located up a very steep winding road that is rather scenic but looks rather
treacherous. Once you're there it is well worth it. It sort of looks like something they would create in Disneyland, but it's here in Portugal and it is for real. The palace is
surrounded by a beautiful park filled with a variety of trees and flowers
brought from every corner of the Portuguese Empire by Dom Fernando
Quinta Da Regaleira is truly a monument of amazing
imagination with mystical roots verging on the supernatural. The Quinta has been
taken over by the Sintra Council and has been converted into a historic and
cultural meeting point that is open to the local community and visitors. It may
be seen only by guided tour. You are advised to book in advance by calling Tel:
21 923 16 71.
There are many more things that
visitors should see in Sintra. The Moorish Castle which dates back to the
8th century and offers stunning views from its walls and the
Monserrate Palace with its exotic gardens are just a few
examples
Sintra is truly a beautiful area. It is situated in the mountains and has its own microclimate created by the clouds that often lie above the mountain.
Stay in Sintra you might consider staying at the Hotel Palácio de Seteais. (Tel: 351-21-923 32 00)
or E-Mail Seteais. It is a
"Palace" on top of one of Sintra's many hills. It is a beautiful setting. It was
built by a Dutchman in the 18th century, and is now a luxury hotel.
The decor and appointments are wonderful. It sits on top of one of Sintra's
hills and you can go out on the terrace and look out over Sintra. Looking out
the front entrance, you see the Pena Castle. It only has about 30 rooms and is a
Five-Star (*****) hotel but it is well worth the expense. Palácio de Seteais - rates, availability
and reservations . You will
remember it forever. The translation of the hotels' name is "The Palace of Seven
Sighs". Even if you can't stay here, it is well worth visiting
for a drink on the terrace or perhaps some lunch. The views from the rear
terrace are spectacular
You might want to consider staying at other properties in the Sintra area. Another Four Star (****) Hotel located near the Palácio Nacional, the Tivoli Sintra.
Sintra's celebrated HOTEL LAWRENCE ***** has reopened its doors after a 38 year sabbatical. Founded in 1764 by Jane Lawrence, the hotel's guest list has included such literary figures such as Lord Byron and Portuguese novelist Eça de Queirós.
Another option you may consider is staying at a house on a farm, which is open, all year. The farm, with 30,000 square meters, is 10-15 minutes away from a large main road (IC-19) that leads to Sintra (10 kms), Estoril (20 kms), Cascais (25 kms) and Lisbon (25 kms). You
may rent the complete house or partial accommodations can also be arranged. The
facilities include 2 large bedrooms with bath, 1 bedroom without bath (double
bed), 1 small bedroom without bath (single bed), 1 small-equipped kitchen and a
large living/Dinning room with a fire place. Transportation arrangements can be
solved. For information on availability and prices please contact Mr. Alberto
Goncalves on mobile phone +(351) 936 951998 or via E-Mail Alberto
Another option that you may consider, on the road to Colares there is a Manor House Quinta de Capela. We were very impressed with it. They have rooms and apartments for rent. This estate is extremely impressive. This manor house is
surrounded by the Sintra hills. All the rooms have spectacular views of the
romantic Palace of Monserrate and its botanical gardens, the lush vegetation of
the Serra, with the ancient Moorish Castle and the royal Pena Palace completing
the panorama.
Sintra Hotel Information 
There is a network of super highways that makes commuting into Lisbon or the Lisbon airport very feasible from the Sintra area. You also can easily drive over to Estoril and Cascais in twenty minutes.
Convento dos Capuchos
There is plenty of parking in front of the Convent. There is also an Admission charge of 200$ Escudos, but the visit is an incredible experience. The Convent dates from around
1560. At first you wonder how to get in. It's not too obvious. Finally you
figure it out and then you are inside wondering around the narrow stone
corridors, looking into the tiny rock cells lined with cork where the monks
lived and prayed. The eating area has a crude stone table and the toilet is
composed of rock seats with holes cut in the rock. You fell very impressed that
men lived and worshipped in these meager surroundings. It does give you a sense
of spirituality as you slowly move through this setting
Pay attention to the way that you are going as you move through the Convent. The route, inside, is not marked and I could visualize being lost forever in the ruins of the Convent.
The experience is well worth the trip. It was very impressive to see how these humble men dedicated themselves too and worshipped God centuries ago.
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