Lisboa Trip Overview
Sintra, the Moon Hill, is a place full of magic and mystery, where Nature and Man have combined in such a perfect symbiosis that UNESCO has granted it Word Heritage Site status.In the 19th century Sintra became the first centre of European Romantic architecture. Ferdinand II turned a ruined monastery into a castle where this new sensitivity was displayed in the use of Gothic, Egyptian, Moorish and Renaissance elements and in the creation of a park blending local and exotic species of trees. Other fine dwellings, built along the same lines in the surrounding area, created a unique combination of parks and gardens which influenced the development of landscape architecture throughout Europe.
Additional Info
* Duration: 7 hours
* Starts: Lisboa, Portugal
* Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
Sintra, the Moon Hill, is a place full of magic and mystery, where Nature and Man have combined in such a perfect symbiosis that UNESCO has granted it Word Heritage Site status.In the 19th century Sintra became the first centre of European Romantic architecture. Ferdinand II turned a ruined monastery into a castle where this new sensitivity was displayed in the use of Gothic, Egyptian, Moorish and Renaissance elements and in the creation of a park blending local and exotic species of trees. Other fine dwellings, built along the same lines in the surrounding area, created a unique combination of parks and gardens which influenced the development of landscape architecture throughout Europe.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Pass By: Castelo dos Mouros, Estrada da Pena Parque de Monserrate, Sintra 2710-609 Portugal
From the town centre catch the tourist bus as it climbs the steep and narrow hills of the Serra de Sintra. The next stop is the restored ruin of the Moors castle. The castle was constructed by the Moors in the 9th century to protect the fertile lands of Sintra but was unable to defend against the Christian crusades. From the 12th century the importance of the castle waned and it became a ruin after fire and earthquake damage. King Fernando II (1816 –1885) was enchanted by the medieval period and set about restoring the castle as an enchanting ruin. The castle is set amidst dense pine forests and from the battlements there are spectacular views over Sintra.
In case you are interested we can visit this place.
We wont have time to see everything so you must decide what you really want to see.
Entrances are not included
Stop At: Park and National Palace of Pena, Estrada da Pena, Sintra 2710-609 Portugal
Pena Palace and this is within walking distance of the Moors castle, so there is no need to wait for the tourist bus. The Pena Palace was designed by the artistic King Fernando II and the palace is an extravagant mixture of vivid colours and fine stone carvings. The interior has been retained to how it was when the monarchy fled Portugal in 1910 and is just as interesting as the exterior. The Pena Palace is the best of the three attractions visited in the day.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Centro Historico de Sintra, Sintra 2710-616 Portugal
Sintra, the Moon Hill, is a place full of magic and mystery, where Nature and Man have combined in such a perfect symbiosis that UNESCO has granted it Word Heritage Site status.
We will have lunch here after the visit to Pena Palace
Duration: 1 hour
Pass By: Palacio de Monserrate, R. Visc. de Monserrate, Sintra 2710-591 Portugal
Monserrate Palace, Sintra (Palacio de Monserrate) is a beautiful 19th century stately home. This extravagantly decorated palace blends Portuguese, Arabian and Indian architectural styles and is one the most beautiful buildings in Sintra. The palace was commissioned by Francis Cook, an English textile baron, who used the estate as a summer retreat.
This English influence extends to the impressive lawn (the first laid in Portugal) that stretches away from the house down to the wonderful botanical gardens. The grounds of the Monserrate Palace hide specialist and exotic gardens with non-native plants from Cook’s personal collection. The Monserrate palace is the smallest of Sintra’s three palaces but it is by far the most decorative and beautiful and will captivate visitors.
Pass By: Quinta da Regaleira, Rua Barbosa do Bocage, Sintra 2710-567 Portugal
Palace of the Millions,” part of the Regaleira Estate. Built at the close of the 19th century in Gothic, Manueline and Renaissance styles, it sprouts turrets and towers. It is surrounded by a garden filled with mythological and esoteric symbols — statues of gods, mysterious wells, ponds, and grottoes. The highlight is an almost supernatural tunnel staircase that symbolizes death leading into a “Garden of Eden,” symbolizing “rebirth” or the entrance to Heaven. You are free to look around unguided, although the option of a guided tour is worth taking to get the full flavor of the place.
If you are interested, ad if we have time, we can visit this place.
Entrances not included
Stop At: Rua Doutor Antonio Brandao de Vasconcelos, Lugar das Piscinas das Azenhas do Mar, Azenhas do Mar Portugal
Close to Sintra
Portugal find heaven on the sea shore.
Breathe. Relax. Feel…
Take a little time to look at the sea…
It is a wonderful viewpoint
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Estrada Cabo da Roca, Colares 2705-001 Portugal
The cape is located within the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, 42 kilometres northwest of the urbanized area of Lisbon and 18 kilometres northwest of Sintra. A location (38°47′N 9°30′W) is inscribed on a stone plaque, located on a monument at the site.
The western coast is a mixture of sand beaches and rocky cliff promontories: around Cabo da Roca, cliffs are more than 100 metres in height, and cut into crystalline rocks, composed of strongly folded and faulted sedimentary units. These forms are disturbed by dikes and small beaches.[2] This promontory of “high” beaches is the extreme western immersion of the ancient eruptive Sintra massif, as evident from the rose-coloured granite in the north and syenite of the Ribeira do Louriçal in the south. In the vicinity of the Cape, there are geomorphological examples of gabbro-diorite, volcanic breccia, and granite.
Part of the granite formations show evidence of strong coastal erosion, while in other areas there are limestone deposits embedded in the granite.
Duration: 20 minutes
Pass By: Praca Marques do Pombal, Avenida da Liberdade Rotunda, Lisbon Portugal
The point where we started
Pass By: Estrada Cabo da Roca, Colares 2705-001 Portugal
On the road to the westernMost point of Europe
