Sintra: Portugal’s delightful undiscovered hillside village

Quinta da Regaleira is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Palace of Monteiro the Millionaire" (wikipedia)

SINTRA, PORTUGAL– As the prominent science fiction writer Ray Bradbury once wrote, “Half the fun of travel is the aesthetic of lostness.” Though Sintra, Portugal is less than an hour by train from Lisbon, it seems light years away. “Lostness” is Sintra’s legacy. It is Alice’s rabbit hole of travel, for once you venture into its beguiling charms, an array of discovery opens just beyond every turn.

This hillside village may have more castles, gardens, museums and scenery than any town its size in the world. 

In the not so distant past Tripadvisor published a list of “10 breathtaking towns in Europe you probably never heard of.” So it was, as a longtime advocate of the joys of discovery in travel, that it was especially delicious to discover that Sintra was noted among the ten.

Sintra is a distinctive must-see destination, yet it remains relatively unheard of for many travelers.  Thanks to its stunning 19^th architecture, Sintra is a UNESCO World Heritage site with no less than six major attractions.

Trains depart Rossio Station in Lisbon to Sintra  (wikipedia)

Regular train service departs from Rossio Station in Lisbon to the hillside town where 33,000 residents live among the parks and gardens that compliment magnificent palaces and castles to the delight of any visitor.  Two highlights are the 19^th century Pena Palace and the National Palace of Portugal, the summer residence of the Portuguese kings. 

Pena Palace is arguably the showcase.  Though regarded as one of the “Seven Wonders of Portugal,” it hasn’t always been the luxurious structure it is today.  For hundreds of years it was little more than a modest meditation site for a maximum of 18 monks.

With its colorful facades and unique architecture, Pena Palace is a showcase in Sintra  (wikipedia)

Natural disasters, including an earthquake and lightning, left the former monastery in ruins during the 18^th century.  Only the chapel with its marble and alabaster works of art survived.  It wasn’t until the middle of the 19^th century when reconstruction began to give Pena Palace the appearance it has today.

Among the elements requested by King Ferdinand and Queen Maria II, who began the rebuilding process, were medieval and Islamic aspects of architecture along with vaulted arches and an ornate window over the main façade.  Vibrant red and yellow colors added flair to the palace that distinguishes it even today.  The elaborate decorations combined with the intentional mixture of architectural designs have made Pena Palace one of Portugal’s most popular destinations for visitors.

Aerial view of Qunta da Regaliera and its park  (wikipedia)

Interiors are surprisingly small considering the massive exterior because corridors and doorways were cleverly designed to slow the pace of surging invaders.  Each room has been lovingly appointed to the extent that the furnishings convey an ambience of habitation even though the palace has not been occupied for decades.  In fact, the elaborate extent of the décor may rival any historical monument of similar distinction in the world.

Pena Palace is only the beginning, however.  Sintra also features the Castle of the Moors, Monserrate Palace, Pena National Palace, Seteais Palace, Quinta da Regaleira and the Sintra National Palace as well as countless gardens and parks that make it a horticultural haven.

The National Palace is another of the many cultural wonders in the hillside village of Sintra  (wikipedia)

Access to Sintra from Lisbon couldn’t be easier. It is also inexpensive.  A train ticket from Rossio Station costs about 4 euros.  Ride the train to the end of the line.  Once in Sintra, bus #434 provides regular service from the front of the railway station to most of the sights in town.  Buses are approximately 2 euros.  

Hardier travelers can make the delightful walk along the hillside into the main village, but once there, it is advisable to catch a bus up to the palaces and castles.

Sintra is not a place to be rushed.  Plan to spend the day, enjoy a relaxing lunch and relish all that it has to offer.