Sintra, Portugal

Sintra is a magical place. As soon as you step foot off the train, take a look up the mountain towards the castle and you’ll know what I mean. The quaint town, just a 40 minute train ride from the center of Lisbon (Rossio/Restauradores Station), is enveloped in a mystical haze and full of parks and palaces.

Located just a nice hike or a short bus ride from the historic center of Sintra you will find the National Palace of Sintra, the National Palace of Queluz, the Quinta da Pena Estate, the Park and Palace of Pena, the Moorish Castle, the Park of Monserrate, the Chalet and Garden of the Countess of Edla, and the Capuchos Convent. One could easily spend an entire weekend exploring only in Sintra, however, most people tend to take a day trip here from Lisbon.

The most popular sites of Sintra, and rightfully so, are the Moorish Castle and the Park and Palace of Pena. Both are UNESCO World Heritage sites and located on top of parallel mountain peaks which offer spectacular views.

The Moorish Castle (Castelo dos Mouros) is a military fort built by the Muslim populations that occupied the Iberian Peninsula in the 10th century. It served as a control tower for the Atlantic Coast since the ocean and coastline are easily visible from it.

You will arrive to the Castle after a short hike along a path through the lush forest that surrounds it. Be sure to wear your comfortable shoes because there is lots of climbing involved to the reach the castle’s highest point, known as the “Royal Tower.” There are also several more towers between the two accessible ends of the castle, all offering views that wrap around the mountain top.

The Park and Palace of Pena (Parque y Palacio da Pena) is an example of 19th century Portuguese Romanticism and housed several members of the royal family. Characterized by it’s eclectic style and bright colors, the palace occupies only a small part of the 85 acres upon which it is located. Visitors can easily get lost wandering the hillside landscape that was transformed into the beautiful gardens which they now see.

Be sure to take a walk up to the actual palace where upon arrival you will be created by a rather interesting carving of a Triton who guards the palace entrance. As you enter and make your way through the maze-like rooms of the palace you will certainly catch beautiful glimpses out the windows which overlook the mountain top where the aforementioned Moorish Castle is located. The palace tour ends with a walk through the impressive palace kitchen.

Impressive, enchanting, and spectacular are words that don’t even begin to capture the awe of Sintra’s sites. A day in this charming town is essential on any trip to Lisbon, although it truly deserves a trip of its own. So be sure to make a stop here, you won’t be disappointed!

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Have you been to Sintra?  We’d love to hear about your experiences there!  Leave a comment below!

[accordion_tab title=”Graduate Correspondent: Caitlin Fournier” default]

Caitlin Fournier is a native of Stafford, VA who graduated in 2012 from Ferrum College with a B.A. in Spanish and minor in International Studies. She currently lives with her slightly overweight black cat, Lucie, in Madrid, Spain where she is studying a Masters in International Education at the Universidad de Alcalá and working as an English Language Assistant. Her passion for traveling sparked in 2004 when she traversed the globe on her first international flight to Beijing, China, where she helped at an orphanage for several weeks. Since then she has wandered her way to 16 countries around the world including a semester in Seville, Spain where she fell head over heels in love with Spain and the Spanish language. In her free time, Caitlin enjoys reading books, experimenting new recipes in the kitchen, playing soccer, and running long distance races. Currently at the top of her travel list are India and Brazil.[/accordion_tab]