'''Sintra''' is both a town and a municipality in the Lisbon Coast/aka Estoril Coast region of Portugal. Its spectacular setting, 28km from Lisbon, houses a Royal Palace, used by generations of Portuguese royalty prior to the 1910 revolution. The surrounding hills are surmounted by the remains of the Moorish Castle and by the nineteenth-century Pena Palace.Historic Sintra is an heritage patrimony sight declared by UNESCO. The Estoril coast is often considered to be part of the Lisbon coast, which includes Cascais,Lisbon,Sintra and other nearby municipaliies.

Regions

  • Queluz (city)
  • Agualva-Cacem (city)
  • Colares (town)
  • Sintra (vila/town and serra/mountain).
  • Get in

    [http://ttaxi.pt Airport Transfers Faro and Lisbon]

    By train

    Sintra rail station may be reached by '''CP''' services from several Lisbon stations, including Santa Apolonia, Oriente, Campolide and Rossio. The town is a 10 minute walk from the station. Alternatively, a bus to the center can be caught from the bus stop opposite the station.

    It should cost around 3.20 euros return. For more information, contact:

  • [http://www.cp.pt/ '''CP'''], Portuguese Railways.
  • By tram

    The historic 14km tram route from Praia das Macas, mainland Europe's most westerly holiday resort, terminates about 1km from Sintra town centre, at Ribeira de Sintra, which is located about 1km down the hill past the Hotel Tivoli, near the Royal Palace. The service is operated by restored trams dating from the early 20th century; operates F-Su 9:30am-7:30pm; trams run hourly taking 45 minutes for the journey.

    When visited 8th June 2008, the section of tram route Ribeira da Sintra to Praia das Macas was 'closed until further notice for technical reasons.' Conversely, the previously unused short section from the town centre down the hill to Riberia da Sintra is the only working section, having been newly restored. Trams run on the afternoons of Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

    No information was avaialable as to any planned re-opening. The track is intact but rusting away and the signalling system still working.

    For more information, contact:

  • [http://www.cm-sintra.pt/NoticiaDisplay.aspx?ID=2968 '''Sintra Tram'''], telephone ''+351'' 219238500.
  • Get around

    The best bet is to take the bus around town and walk from the bus stops to the attractions. Parking is abysmal and on a holiday weekend Sintra can be absolutely packed with cars and people. If you must drive to Sintra, park in one of the several parking lots below the town center and walk up into town. Once you are in town you can take the circular 434 bus route to the Palacio da Pena, the Castelo dos Mouros (Moorish castle) and other sights. Tickets are only 4 euros for the whole day and can be purchased from the bus driver. If you choose to walk be warned that the trek to Palacio da Pena and the Castelo dos Mouros can be a daunting, steep up-hill, one-hour climb from the city center. If you feel fit, though, the stunning view from the top is a generous reward for your troubles.

    There is also a walking trail through the woods to the Moorish castle that starts above the Sintra city center at the wooden turnstile on the Rampa do Castelo; better bring a map and ask for directions as the entrance to this trail is well hidden. Once you have made the journey to the castle, it's only few more minutes walk up the hill on the main road to the Palacio. The walk to Monserrate from the Sintra town center is still approximately one hour but is less strenuous. Also note that the "Linha Monserrate" that picks up passengers in front of the Palacio Nacional de Sintra is only a "sight-seeing" bus, it does not deliver you to Monserrate.

    To get to Cabo da Roca (Cape Roca), take the 403 bus (Direction = Cascais). The journey takes about 40 minutes.

    See

  • '''Monserrate'''
  • '''The Royal Palace'''
  • '''Pena''' park with '''Pena Palace''' (Palacio da Pena)
  • Beautiful example of Moorish architecture which is sadly not very well maintained. Nevertheless, well-worth a visit.

  • '''Quinta da Regaleira'''
  • '''Convento dos Capuchos'''
  • '''Moorish Castle''' (Castelo dos Mouros)
  • One of the highlights of Sintra not to be missed. Apparently, when Cascais was under the rule of Sintra, a huge fire would be lit here annually to remind the people of Cascais that the Moorish Castle is there to protect them.

  • Regaleira Palace and Gardens (Quinta da Regaleira e Jardins). ua Barbosa du Bocage, 2710-567 Sintra. +351) 21 910 66 50. egaleira@mail.telepac.pt. +351) 21 924 47 25. Regaleira Palace, situated at the historic centre of Sintra, is also part of the built heritage included in UNESCO's world heritage list as "Sintra cultural landscape". The origins of this place date back to 1697, when the property was bought by Jose Leite, but it was only by the late 19th century that the history of the Palace and Gardens begins. In 1892 Carvalho Monteiro, an eccentric capitalist that had made a huge fortune in Brazil, bought the property and hired the Italian architect Luigi Manini to conceive a place that gathered, on the one hand, a sum of artistic currents (Gothic, Manueline and Renaissance) and, on the other hand, the glorification of national history influenced by mythic and esoteric traditions. A great variety of Masonic symbols is present in Regaleira Palace and Gardens. An important example is the magnificent "Poco Iniciatico" (Initiation Well), looking like an upside down tower, where at every 15 steps a plateau is reached, in a total of nine leading to the depths of the earth. The nine plateaus remind the nine circles of Hell, the nine sections of Purgatory and the nine heavens of Paradise, as designated by Dante. Monday to Sunday, from 10h00 to 18h30 (last entrance at 18h00)Prices with guide: 10 ? (standard); 8 ? (> 65 yr); 5 ? (9-14 yr); Free (< 9 yr). Prices without guide: 5 ? (standard); 4 ? (> 65 yr); 2,5 ? (9-14 yr); Free (< 9 yr)."></see>

    Buy

    Souvenirs and Porto wine are all on sale in the Sintra historic district. There are a number of shops that sell standard tourist items (post cards, t-shirts, etc.) and a number of shops that sell ceramics, pieces of art and hand crafts. If you are looking for gifts for friends and family, Sintra has a broad selection of items to choose from.

    Eat

  • '''Queijadas''' mainly the ones from "Casa do Preto"
  • '''Travesseiros da Periquita'''
  • '''Cynthia''': next to the bus and rail stations on the downside of Sintra, there is this small but fine restaurant where you can taste a marvelous codfish ("Bacalhau a bras" or "Bacalhau a grelha"). They are very kind and friendly, and don't hesitate to help you in anything you need.
  • China palace. Right next to the railway station there is a cheap and tasty Chinese restaurant. But the best part is that they make very fast take away. Just ask for the 2 minute take away, it's not on the menu, but they will make it just for you!

    Drink

    If you have the chance, you should try the Hockey Club, just in the beginning of the street that goes up to the Piriquita (the most well known coffee shop in Sintra due to its marvelous egg sweets).

    Sleep

  • Pestana Sintra Golf. ttp://www.pestana.com/hotels/en/hotels/europe/LisbonHotels/Sintra/Home/SintraGolf.htm. 351 21 042 4300 (fax:+351 21 042 4398). uinta da Beloura Rua Mato da Mina, no 19 2710-692 Sintra" email="sales.sintra@pestana.com" </sleep>

  • Hotel Tivoli Sintra. raca da Republica - 2710-616 Sintra. 351 21 9237200. 351 21 9237245. reathtaking panoramic views of old Sintra, one of the most beautiful towns in Portugal and of the Sintra National Palace, the former residence of the Portuguese Royal Family.. ttp://www.tivolihotels.com.

  • Tivoli Palacio de Seteais Hotel. ue Barbosa do Bocage, 10 - 2710-517 Sintra. 351 21 9533200. agnificent example of 18th century architecture. ttp://www.tivolihotels.com.
  • Casa do Miradouro. 351 21 910 71 00. ttp://www.casa-miradouro.com. The Lambregts Family is very pleased to let you enjoy the pleasure of spending your holiday in the beautiful Casa Miradouro. The lady of the house Charlotte will make your stay very comfortable and unforgettable. Take a look inside and discovered the most pleasant Guest-house in Portugal. </sleep>

    Get out

    Ericeira,Mafra,Peniche,Obidos,Alcobaca,Nazare,Leiria,Coimbra,Tomar,Almourol, Fatima,Ourem,Santarem,Cascais,Estoril,Oeiras,Lisboa,Almada,Caparica,Sesimbra, Palmela,Setubal,Troia,Alcacer,Evora.