Sintra

Since I started planning for our Portugal trip way back over the summer, there was one place I was very much looking forward to visiting - Sintra.  It is a town set in the foothills of the Serra Mountains, a 40-minute train ride from Lisbon.  You can find multiple palaces, beautiful wooded forests, and stunning views. 

After we arrived at the Sintra train station, we hopped on the 434 bus which took us to The Palacio Nacional da Pena (Pena Palace).  The palace sits high on a hill and looks like something you would find at Disney World with its painted terraces, blue tiles, and bright red clock tower.  

A 15-minute walk down the hill from Pena Palace takes you to Castelo dos Mouros (Castle of the Moors).  The ruins were built in the 9th-century by the North African Moors to guard the village of Sintra.  The castle fell into disrepair after the Christian conquest of Portugal.

We then took the bus back down to the city center where we visited the Palácio Nacional de Sintra.  The palace is known for its conical chimneys and 15th-century azulejos (tiles) which are among Portugal's oldest.  

View of Palácio Nacional de Sintra from Castelo dos Mouros

From the town center, it is a quick 15-minute walk to Quinta da Regaleira.  This estate was created by Italian opera-set designer, Luigi Manini, under the orders of Brazilian coffee tycoon, António Carvalho Monteiro (nicknamed 'Moneybags Monteiro').  The grounds are covered with hidden and underground passageways.  The most popular is the The Initiation Well, a subterranean tower sinking 88 feet and accessible by a spiraling staircase. 

The Initiation Well - looking down into the bottom

Chapel

The last place we visited during our day trip to Sintra was the Palácio & Parque de Monserrate (Monserrate Park & Palace).  This resort was the traditional summer home of the Portuguese royal court.  It was built in the 19th-century by English millionaire Sir Francis Cook.  There are thick and winding gardens surrounding the palace. 

Looking up at the ceiling in the entryway 

One of the groundskeepers?!?

Sintra was one of those places that exceeded every expectation I had!  It felt like being in a fairytale world with all the beautiful palaces and hilltop views.  Sintra has even been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage center.   It is one of those places I do hope we can visit again.