SINTRA, PORTUGAL

Sintra is a small town in Portugal, located 17 miles from Lisbon. A microclimate, Sintra benefits from the breezes off the ocean, making it much cooler than its neighboring towns. As a result, the Portuguese court often spent its summers there and built palaces and villas along the town. English poet Robert Southey has described Sintra as “the most blessed spot on the whole inhabitable globe,” and once you see the pictures and perhaps experience it yourself, you’ll see why.

Azenhas do Mar is a community located in a valley in Sintra, creating a striking picture with its white houses on the cliffs and a swimming pool dug out of the rocks below by the ocean.

Cabo da Roca, a cape that forms the westernmost point of Portugal, mainland Europe, and the Eurasian land mass, is crowned with a lighthouse that makes a popular tourist destination.

The Castelo da Pena, also known as Pena National Palace, is a Romanticist palace and one of the many beautiful buildings in Sintra. Standing atop a hill, the palace can be seen from as far as Lisbon’s metropolitan area on a clear day. It is noted as one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal.

The Castelo dos Mouros, or the Castle of the Moors, overlooks Sintra and offers breathtaking views of the town.

A palatial villa and a traditional summer resort for the Portuguese court, the Monserrate Palace is another example of Sintra Romanticism, echoing the designs of the aforementioned Pena Palace.

The Sintra National Palce is the best-preserved medieval Royal Palace in Portugal.

The Quinta da Regaleira is another estate among the many in Sintra consisting of romantic designs and features a chapel and a park including lakes, frottoes, wells, benches, and fountains.

The Praia da Adraga is a beach along the North Atlantic. Difficult to reach by public transportation, the beach is world-renowned for both its incredible beauty and its access for handicapped persons.

The Queluz National Palace was created as a summer retreat for Portuguese royalty. One of the last great Rococo buildings to be designed in Europe, it is referred to as the Portuguese Versailles.

The Seteais Palace is a neoclassical palace that is now a luxury hotel, restaurant and tourist attraction.