What to see in Sintra, the land of fairy tales, not too far from Lisbon can be reached by car or by train. Do not miss Palazzo Pena, Castello dei Mori and Convent of the Capuchins.
I knew Sintra during the tour I did years ago of Portugal. Everyone called her "the land of fairy tales”And this fascinated me very much.
Sintra is a Portuguese town not far from Lisbon and has been part of the Unesco heritage since 1995.
If you are in Lisbon you must definitely pay a visit to it and reaching it is very simple: the train leaves from Rossio station and the journey takes about 40 minutes. If you are by car it is about 20 km away and there are various paid parking lots. I advise you to arrive early because in the high season months it is besieged by tourists. Surely if you can it is much better to visit it in low season, it will certainly be much more fascinating.
I remember that as soon as I arrived I was immediately impressed! As we reached the old town on the sidewalk there was a succession of particular statues and if you looked a little higher you could see colorful palaces and castles that sprouted from the green of the woods. I've never seen anything like it.
Once you arrive at the main square you will get lost among the narrow streets, stairways and typical shops. You will find them on Palacio da Vila (National Palace of Sintra) and you will recognize him thanks to his cone fireplaces.
This palace was the summer residence of various Portuguese kings and inside you will notice that each room has its own decoration and is a true tribute to thetile which is a typical ornament of Portuguese architecture. I was impressed by the party room with the ceiling decorated with 27 swans and they explained to me that that decoration was linked to the marriage between King Joao's daughter (Isabella) and Philip of Burgundy because the swan was both the symbol of the princess and that of Philip's hometown, Bruges.
After the tour of the building you can reach, walking a little on the beautiful hills (or taking the tourist bus), the Castle of the Moors located in the giant Parque da Pena. It was built by the Moors to protect the city but fell into disrepair after the Christian conquest and was later restored by King Ferdinand. This castle is very charming and has wonderful viewpoints.
From the Castle you can reach the very famous Palace of Pena that conquers everyone thanks to its bright colors that do not make it the usual royal palace. Decorated with arabesque motifs, strange Gothic figures and Renaissance domes, seems to reflect the not-so-sober tastes of those who had it built, King Fernando II who wanted to transform an old monastery into a one-of-a-kind palace. Of the ancient montastero only the chapel and the cloister remained. Once inside you will reach the royal living room decorated in Victorian style and then be catapulted into an arabesque atmosphere in the Arab room and finally you will feel like you have arrived in India in the Indian room. A mix of incredible styles not only outside but also inside.
You will have a lot of fun. King Fernando's extravagance is not limited only to the palace but also to the immense Parque da Pena, where you will find exotic plants near Nordic plants. I recommend that you get a map of the park so you can discover various places such as the duck house and the Source dos
Passarinhos. Enjoy this "enchanted forest" and venture out on the various paths.
Another place I recommend you visit is here Vacation Specials which you can find by returning to the Palacio da Vila. It is a wonderful palace with a crazy decoration, full of Masonic symbols. Here you will get lost in exploring the gardens and caves. Close to this palace you will find the Palacio de Seteais which has been converted into a luxury hotel. If you walk up to the viewpoint you will have a magnificent view.
The Monserrate Palace is also worth a visit, it is beautiful in its Arabic style and it too is set in a wonderful garden full of fountains, plants of all kinds and waterfalls.
Finally I recommend that you also go to the Convent of the Capuchins, a tiny and charming convent that you will find in the woods of Sintra. Here you will see the small cork-lined cells where the monks lived, some chapels, a kitchen and a cave. It is a very fascinating place and it makes you understand how the monks lived a very simple life here. The spaces are very small but the place is truly beautiful. The tourist bus leaves you at a building where you can buy your ticket and then you have to walk about 10 minutes to reach it. You will see small stone walls and some buildings here and there. This place inspires meditation, peace and serenity
If you only have one day to see everything I have described to you is very difficult, collect information and in case visit the places that attract you the most. However, I am sure that once you arrive you will want to dedicate all the time you have to it. Sintra is beautiful and will catapult you into an atmosphere that you will rarely breathe.
