Sintra
Everybody who has been to Lisbon told us that we must go to Sintra. You know what? They are absolutely right.
(Click on each image to see the high-resolution version)
Sintra lies to the west of Lisbon, in the mountains near the Atlantic coast. Because of its geography, it is cooler and often more cloudy than Lisbon (the moist air from the Atlantic would condense over these mountains). Nested in the mountains and surrounded by forests, Sintra is instantly likable. Even its Camara Municipal (Town Hall) is a beautiful and stately building.
Camara Municipal
The Spanish style buildings of Sintra with their orange tiled roofs contrasted nicely with the forested surroundings.
Sintra
The most famous attraction in Sintra is, of course, the Pena Palace. Painted with bold red, orange and yellow colors, it is striking and very different than the typical Medievil style European palaces and castles.
Pena Palace
Pena Palace
Pena Palace
Pena Palace
Pena Palace
From the hill where the palace sits, the view is panoramic. The boldly colored walls of the palace is juxtaposed nicely against the verdant plains and the distant ocean.
Wall
Wall
Across from the wooded slopes from the palace is the Castelo dos Mouros (Moors Castle), which we admired from afar, and eventually up-close.
Castelo dos Mouros
Castelo dos Mouros
Castelo dos Mouros
Castelo dos Mouros
Castelo dos Mouros
Castelo dos Mouros
Castelo dos Mouross
The castle also affords bird's-eye view of the town of Sintra.
Sintra
Sintra
Our excursion to Sintra was somewhat hurried, as we had to catch the train back to Lisbon. We made one more stop at Quinta da Regaleira, where the most interesting sight was the Initiation Well, where occult initiation ceremonies were performed by the Knights Templar.
Initiation Well at Quinta da Regaleira
Initiation Well at Quinta da Regaleira
