Exploring Sintra – Portugal
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Sintra is truly a magical place to visit, and you will find that there are hundreds of amazing sights to see, sounds to hear, and delicious smells to enjoy. The small town in Portugal is the perfect destination when taking a weekend backpacking trip, a romantic getaway, or a family vacation. You will find that there is no end to the beauty of the city, and there are many things to see and do in this town that is just 31 kilometers away from the capital city of Lisbon.
Whether you drive or enjoy the hour-long train ride through the beautiful countryside of Portugal, there is nothing that can compare to the marvels that you will see when you enter the tiny town of Sintra. The palaces, gardens, ruins, and town squares of the UNESCO World Heritage Site will spark your imagination and bring you back to a time when the world was simpler and happier.
Here are some sights you cannot miss when visiting Sintra:
- Pena Palace is Sintra’s most famous building, and it is comparable to the fairy-tale castles in Germany and Bavaria. The massive castle boasts turrets, domes, ramparts, and gargoyle’s straight out of a myth, and the massive ballroom, priceless paintings, and elegant decorations of the castle will leave you with your mouth agape at the collection of beauty in the castle.
- The National Palace square is a must-see for all visitors to Sintra. The pair of conical chimneys tower high above the rest of the town, and these landmarks sit atop a construction built in a fusion of the Manueline, Moorish, and Gothic architecture styles. The collection of colored tiles, or Mudejar Azulejos, is rumored to be one of the largest in the world, and the Coat of Arms Room is famous for its amazing ceiling featuring the coat of arms of the 74 prominent families.
- Pena Park surrounds Pena Palace, and the wide variety of trees, bushes, shrubs, plants, and flowers make this park a wonderful place for nature lovers to relax and enjoy themselves. Children will love running around the fountains, ponds, and gardens, and the black swans floating majestically on the water will astound and amaze them.
- The Regaleira Estate is home to the Palace of the Millions, built in a fusion of Renaissance, Manueline, and Gothic architecture styles. The turrets and towers decorating the castle once protected its walls from invaders, and the esoteric and mystical symbols in the garden of the palace will make you feel as if you have walked into another world entirely.
- The Capuchos Convent is a tiny building that contrasts sharply with the elegance of the palaces and castles. This convent features tiny cells, tight corridors, and beautiful chapels all cut from stone and lined with cork. All of these are places that you must see if you visit the town, and you will find that you will be fortunate to own land in Sintra and live close to such a beautiful monument to the creativity and elegance of the Europeans of ages past.
For information on property for sale in Sintra contact the Sintra property team via email at: info@portugalproperty.com or call free on +44(0) 800 014 8201
Published in: Guide to Portugal