Sintra and Serra de Sintra Mountains
Yesterday I joined a group tour of Sintra in the Serra de Sintra Mountains near Lisbon. It was a 9-hour outing including a hike through lush spring gardens. Named for a Princess, Sintra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area’s climate and beauty attracted Portuguese nobility who built “palaces, lush decorative gardens, and extravagant residences”.
Pena Park and Palace
We hiked through sumptuously beautiful Pena National Park and at the top, toured the Palais de Pena. The palace and park are creations of wealthy, extravagant Dom Ferdinand II, a German prince who married Portuguese Queen Maria II.
Pena Park and Palace are examples of the extreme Romanticism of 19th century Portugal. Ferdinand built the Palace, so it could “be observed from any point in the park, forest, and gardens”. The park has over five hundred tree species from all over the world!
We took a lunch break in Sintra with time to explore. I found a small tapas restaurant full of rowdy Portuguese. They were welcoming, and I enjoyed laughing and spending time with them. To be honest, not sure what Portuguese dish I ate for lunch, but it was uniquely delicious!
Quinta da Regaleira
Our next stop was Quinta da Regaleira near central Sintra. Within Sintra’s Cultural Landscape, the estate is also classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. “The property consists of a romantic palace and chapel, and a luxurious park that features grottoes, lakes, wells, benches, and fountains. The palace is also known as ‘The Palace of Monteiro the Millionaire’, based on the nickname of former owner, António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro.”
Palaces
Other imposing palaces in the area include Quinta do Relógio, Monserrate, and Seteais. It was a wonderful day exploring – so much history and information. Portugal is a fascinating country! I only have a few more days in Lisbon. Wish I were staying in Lisbon a bit longer….
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