The small romantic city of Sintra is located between Lisbon and the Atlantic at the foot of the Sintra mountain range. Sintra was once a country resort town frequented by Kings and Nobles.  These important figures of the past have left an indelible mark on Sintra which can be seen in the many beautiful palaces throughout the city. Sintra is described as having unique beauty, a beauty which has been praised by many poets and writers and has lead to the city being declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

See:

• Palácio Nacional de Sintra (Sintra National Palace) – with its white twin towers and combination of Moorish, Gothic and Manueline architectural styles, this palace is the most distinctive landmark in Sintra.
• Pena National Palace - perched at the top of a steep hill, this palace has lemon, lavender and rose-tinted turrets and domes filled with a wide array of decorative arts.
• Castelo dos Mouros – Built in the 8th century, this ruined castle is raised on a high hill overlooking the Sintra-Vila village.
• Capuchin Monastery (Convento dos Capuchos) – this 16th century monastery with cork-lined cells is hidden deep in the forest and is only 9kms from the centre of Sintra.
• Festivals & Events – The classical music festival, one of Sintra’s biggest cultural events is held for one month from mid-June to mid-July. Following is the equally internationally renowned classical and contemporary dance festival from mid-July to end of August.

Experience:

• Parks – The city has many beautiful parks and gardens some of which include; Pena Park filled with lakes, exotic plants, redwoods and fern trees and Monserrate Park, a romantic 30-hectare garden.
• Museums – Sintra has a world-class museum, the Museu de Arte Moderna (Modern Art Museum).  The city also has a Toy Museum (Museu do Brinquedo) that presents a delightful collection from ancient Egyptian stone counters to Christian Dior Barbies. 

Secrets of the City:

• Desserts – The city has a long history of creating local dessert delicacies which include; Sintra’s travesserios, puff pastry dessert filled with an egg mixture, along with queijadas, small cheese-cakes which are made from recipes dating back to the 12th century.