Sintra is an inexhaustible attraction. It was designated as a Cultural Landscape World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1995.
What makes Sintra such an exceptional place? It is exuberant in all senses of the word, a perfect fusion between the riches of nature and magnificent monuments, creating a combination of extreme beauty. In the historic town centre, we find the Royal Palace, one of the many monumental buildings in the region.
Strolling through the town centre is like travelling through a magical world, where the smallest details are of great significance. All this is surrounded and watched over by the grandeur of the Sintra mountains, with luxurious vegetation offering countless different walks.
High in the Serra, on one of its steep peaks, we find the Pena Palace. This UNESCO World Heritage site includes many monuments that deserve to be visited.
Walking through the town and up into the Serra reveals the area’s unique charm.
The proximity of the sea also makes the region a unique destination, since it includes some of the most beautiful beaches in Portugal, including Praia Grande and Praia das Maçãs. To reach this beach from Sintra, you can take a wonderful old-fashioned tram along the old restored track from Sintra to the sea. Further south is Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in mainland Europe, immortalised by Camões as the place “where the land ends...”.
In and around Lisbon: SINTRA
May 2017 - Feature Destination
SEVENSEAS - 63