Sintra is considered the most romantic village in Portugal. You could too! There are palaces and more palaces, castles, lush gardens and the mountains where some of them are built. In addition to its geographical and architectural beauty, Sintra has a gastronomy that is, let's say, broad and peculiar. Some of the town's palaces are among the most visited in the country and not for nothing, as they are uniquely beautiful.
But there's no point in setting aside just one day to get to know Sintra. There are five palaces in the village and also a castle. In addition to other attractions such as gardens, palaces and natural beauty such as the westernmost point in Europe. Sintra is listed by UNESCO.
To make your visit easier, I list below FIVE places you can't miss when visiting Sintra.
Pena National Palace
Considered one of the seven wonders of Portugal, it is the first palace in Europe to have a style originating from romanticism. In 2018, along with São Jorge Castle in Lisbon, Palácio da Pena was the most visited monument in the country.
The imposing and colorful palace was built in the 19th century by King Fernando II and his two wives. The chosen location couldn't be better: the top of Serra de Sintra, where there used to be a monastery and from where you can see the entire town of Sintra and much more.
But I recommend that you buy the tickets online in advance to avoid long lines.
Cabo da Roca
These are cliffs that are located on the coast of Sintra. It is known for being the westernmost point in continental Europe and the views of enormous cliffs, which delight nature and photography lovers, are divine. There are cliffs 140 meters high and make for beautiful photos.
The visitable part also features an imposing lighthouse (you can't visit it, you can only see it from the outside), the westernmost on the European continent, whose illumination extends for 48 kilometers.
As Luiz Vaz de Camões describes it, Cabo da Roca is the place “where the Earth ends and the sea begins”. But bring a coat: it is very windy in Cabo da Roca!
Quinta da Regaleira
Quinta da Regaleira was born from the creativity (and money) of millionaire businessman Antônio Augusto Carvalho Monteiro and is a large property that was built between 1904 and 1910. Both the palace and the impressive garden were designed by Italian architect Luigi Manini.
The Palace features a romantic and revivalist style construction, with different architectural and decorative forms identifiable. The Gothic, Manueline and Renaissance influence can be highlighted, but also the existence of esoteric symbolism.
The gardens have it all: the famous Initiatory Well (also known as the Inverted Tower), secret passages, underground passages that connect many parts of the garden and many sculptures.
Azenhas do Mar
Just over 40 km from the center of Lisbon, Azenhas do Mar is a beach known for its ocean pool, next to the cliffs where the village of Azenhas do Mar is built. A breathtaking view.
Just over 800 residents live in the village, in houses on the edge of the cliffs and on the outskirts of the mountains. An interesting feature is that the houses are built almost close to each other, an ingenious way of circumventing the region's constant wind and leaving the houses less exposed.
Piriquita House
Famous for its pillows (a sweet originating from this confectionery and made with puff pastry and almond cream), Casa Piriquita is a tourist attraction in Sintra.
Like other national delicacies, it does justice to the country's pastry richness. There is so much movement that in the small Historic Center of Sintra there are two Piriquita stores. The best thing is to take the trip and end up eating a delicious pillow, which, due to the movement, always comes out warm.
Cover photo: Parques de Sintra / Serge Michaux