Sintra is a delicious Portuguese town in the district of Lisbon. It was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco on December 19, 1995.
The municipality has large areas of important natural, cultural and aesthetic value, and the constant tourist flow led to preserve it by classifying the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park as a Protected Landscape Area.
Among the hills of the Serra de Sintra and hidden between the hills covered with pine trees are extravagant palaces, opulent mansions and the ruins of an ancient castle.
The historical reason is that, due to its slightly cooler climate thanks to the hills of the Serra de Sintra, the nobility of Portugal was attracted to this town and built its summer residences there. During the 19th century, Sintra was a very popular destination among wealthy craftsmen and the elite of Europe, who built ornate mansions following the romantic style of architecture.
The architectural heritage of Sintra combines the Moorish, Gothic, Mudejar, Manueline, Baroque and Italianizing styles, a cultural landscape that represents «a unique example of the cultural occupation of a specific place that has managed to preserve its essential integrity as a representation of various successive cultures» , as highlighted by the criteria for registration as a World Heritage Site by Unesco.
The variety of fascinating historical buildings and interesting attractions combine to form a spectacular tourist destination. Iberinbound, incoming travel agency, specialized in Spain and Portugal, Shorex, Groups ad-hoc, Luxury and VIP destinations iberinbound@iberinbound.com offers a wide portfolio of active tourism, no matter if in the city or out in the nature. Spain and Portugal is full of possibilities and we can create a perfect combination of adventure, nature and culture. We are at your service to organise a tailor-made holiday for all ages, genders and preferences.
The city of Sintra is Europe’s best example of the colorful and whimsical romantic style of architecture. This elaborate 19th-century design style was inspired by the love of art and the mysticism of ancient cultures, creating decorative and ostentatious buildings, of which the Palácio da Pena is the most incredible example.
Among its main tourist attractions are the historic center of Sintra, numerous castles and old buildings (such as the Castle of the Moors, the palaces da Pena, Queluz, Monserrate, Seteais and the National Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, the Chalet of the Countess Edla, the Convent of the Capuchins and the Ornamental Farm of the Pena, the churches of Santa Maria and São Martinho, the museums of Modern Arts and the Toy, its beaches, the mountains and Cabo da Roca, the point Westernmost in Europe.
The oldest National Palace, in the historic center.
All the palaces of Sintra rose between the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 20th century. We talked about the period when romantic artists fell in love with this corner of Portugal and turned it into the stage of their Grand Tour. But there is an exception: the National Palace of Sintra, or Paço Real, in the historic center, began to be built in the fourteenth century. Of course, the work lasted for more than 300 years. Many kings decorated it with different styles, each with which it was fashionable at the time.
Although its “romantic neighbors”, more colorful and striking, shade it, from the strictly historical and artistic point of view, this is the most interesting palace in the city.
The room that most surprises is the kitchen, with its two gigantic conical chimneys – those two “horns” that are seen from the outside. Although the prettiest, without a doubt, is that of the Great Council, from the beginning of the 16th century, covered with 17th-century tiles and covered with an incredible octagonal wooden dome. Entertain yourself by looking for the blazons of the oldest families in Portugal surrounding Manuel I.
In addition to its cultural heritage and natural landscapes, Sintra has a good tourist infrastructure and is recognized for its wines, marble, confectionery and crafts.
