Located high atop a granite mountain the location was for centuries THE spot to reside in the country and its beauty and breathtaking views are spectacular.
First and foremost is the must-see Palace of Pena which is pictured in the first three images at left. Standing on the highest peaks of the Sintra Mountain it is simply gorgeous and is quite unlike anything to be found elsewhere on this planet. Completed in 1885 its extravagance is unmatched and is an image taken right from a fairytale.
With architectural styles from various cultures it is a unique masterpiece that simply must be seen to be believed. Its towers, ramparts and gates are at the same time odd, yet beautiful. I spent the better part of two hours browsing through the Palace and came away convinced that this was royalty at its most opulent. I highly recommend that anyone visiting Portugal simply MUST see Sintra and its Pena Palace.
Not to be outdone and at the very heart of the old town of Sintra lies another spectacular building, the National Palace of Sintra pictured at the lower left. Built in the 14th century this building was the actual residence of the Portuguese royalty for 400 years. The defining part of the palace is the two huge conical chimneys which emanate from the kitchen. Exploring Sintra and its palaces and sights on foot involves quite a bit of walking and climbing up and down hills along its cobbled streets and winding roads but this is pretty well the only way to get around. This is a medieval town with narrow streets and no parking and does get quite packed in summer so driving around is not really an option. Be prepared to be tired at the end of a long day but the journey is well worth it.
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