A Magical Day in Sintra

Sintra is magical. The beautiful mountains and ocean, the well-preserved old town, and the numerous castles and forts make it one of the most unique and interesting places to visit in Europe. Sintra can be reached as a day trip from Lisbon, but you could easily spend two or more days in this beautiful UNESCO World Heritage city.

I hopped on a train in the late morning, and less than an hour later I arrived at Sintra’s train station. From there, it was an easy walk down a small hill to the old town where the Sintra National Palace and a variety of shops and restaurants were located. The real gems of Sintra are the beautiful palaces and forts that line the hills around the city. Most notable are the Pena National Palace and the Castle of the Moors.

Pena National Palace

The Pena Palace sits at the top of a hill overlooking the city of Sintra. Starting in the 16th century, the site of the palace was occupied by a monastery. A series of natural disasters, including an earthquake and a lightning strike, severely damaged the monastery, and it wasn’t until the first part of the 19th century that Prince Ferdinand decided to convert the damaged monastery into a palace for the royal family. Ferdinand was fond of the romantic style of architecture that was popular during that time period, and he commissioned a German architect to build the palace using romantic themes.

Arriving at the castle entrance felt like a trip to Disney World. The bright colors and unique architecture made the palace seem almost fake, like I was looking at a play castle instead of a real one. I even overheard someone commenting that the walls looked like they were made from spray painted foam blocks. Beautiful azulejos (painted tiles) are incorporated into the palace’s exterior walls and entrance ways, adding to the whimsical feel. The views from the terraces and courtyards around the palace are phenomenal, and you can look down on Sintra and the some of the other beautiful palaces on the ridges below. After you’re done exploring the palace’s exterior, there is plenty more to see inside. Each of the interior rooms is intricately decorated with period furniture and artwork from the era.

Castle of the Moors

The Castle of the Moors was built in the 8th and 9th century by Islamic inhabitants of the region. The castle was eventually surrendered to Christian conquerors during the 12th century. Over time the castle fell to ruin, with considerable damage caused by the Lisbon earthquake of 1755. Restoration efforts during the 19th and 20th century have returned the castle closer to its former glory. I really enjoyed my time walking among the ruins. The views along the guard walls and the observation towers are spectacular. The castle is situated inside of a peaceful forest, and the colorful flower beds provided a pleasant aesthetic to the grounds.