Sintra City, Portugal's 'Hidden Gem' in Portugal
If you travel to Cristiano Ronaldo's country of origin, Lisbon, it is often the main destination. However, about 40 minutes to the west of Lisbon there is a town called Sintra, which looks like a fairy tale. This city is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list, not just one place, but the entire city of Sintra. Try to explore the castles that you can visit if you are in Sintra.
Pena Palace
The charm of the Pena palace in the city of Sintra is so global, that Portugal included it as the 7 wonders in the country. The striking colors of Pena's palace look very beautiful both up close and from a distance.
Reportedly, when the sky is very clear, even from the capital city of Lisbon, residents can see the beauty of the palace which is located high on a green hilltop.
Pena Palace is often dubbed as a historical building with a romantic architecture. In fact, its romantic architecture is said to be the first of any other palace in Europe.
Fort "Moorish Castle"
The Moorish castle is a fortress built around the 9th century by the Moors to protect the city. However, this castle had to collapse during the war for power with the Christians. The situation is getting worse due to earthquakes and fires.
But 10 centuries later, the Moorish castle was restored and is now a very important historical landmark in Sintra city.
Moorish castle or Castelo dos Mouro is still in the same location as Pena palace and is included in the Pena park section. From the top of the fort, tourists can see a stunning panorama of the city of Sintra, including a beautiful view of the blue ocean from a distance.
The Mystical Style Building "Quinta da Regaleira"
Quinta da Regaleira is perhaps the building in Sintra that has the most distinct feel from the others. This gothic-style building was designed by a rich man named António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro who has a special interest in mystical things, and he channeled his passion into the architecture and ornaments of the building.
There are caves, bridges, and wells in the form of a series of labyrinth-like spiral tunnels known as the initiation good. This well was previously used not as a place to hold water, but as a place for mystical religious rituals, one of which was tarot ceremonies.
The splendor of “Sintra National Palace”
The Sintra national palace is located in the heart of the city and has been the oldest residence of the royal family since the 15th century, until the end of monarchy in 1910.
This brilliant white palace features a gothic architectural design. Inside is the coats of arms hall, a room with magnificently carved ceiling walls and displaying the 72 coats of arms of the Portuguese royal family and nobles.
How to get to Sintra
The most frequently used option for getting to Sintra, unless you're coming from the north, is to go to Lisbon by plane and take a day trip to the city, as it is about 30 kilometers away. You can travel by car from the capital by IC19 and N6. Another possibility is to take the inner-city train to easily reach Sintra in half an hour. Trains are available at different stations, such as Rossio or Sete Ríos.
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