“The most beautiful place in Portugal.”
Sintra is one of the most beautiful cities in all of Portugal. It offers an abundance of various tourist attractions to its visitors and has established itself as one of the most popular day trips from the capital Lisbon. The distance between the two cities is about 30 km. Sintra is a charming Portuguese jewel and it is no coincidence that Hans Christian Andresen describes it as “the most beautiful place in Portugal”.
Archaeological finds indicate that this area has been inhabited since the early Paleolithic. It hides in itself a unique nature, shown architecture and a great deal of mystery. Sintra is part of the cultural and historical heritage of UNESCO and there is definitely a reason for that. The city is so different from the rest of Portugal that it can not fail to fascinate and captivate you in an instant.
Colorful architectural beauty – Pena Palace
One of the most interesting and arguably most visited landmarks in Sintra, and in all of Portugal, is the Pena Palace. This majestic architectural jewel was built in 1842 by Ferdinand II – uncle of the Bulgarian king Ferdinand. The first thing that impresses every visitor to the palace is its unique appearance. It is a mixture of many styles, including those typical of North Africa. The colorful, displayed palace rises on a high hill above the city of Sintra, on the site where it is believed that in the twelfth century there was a chapel of the Virgin Mary. Over the years, the small chapel was enlarged, but was severely damaged by lightning in the tenth century and almost destroyed by the great earthquake in 1755. The palace is equipped with two gates, one called the arch of the lizard, and the other is equipped with a movable bridge. The palace also has a magnificent clock tower, the construction of which was completed in 1843.
In front of the main entrance of Pena is the so-called “Queen’s Terrace”, which, in addition to revealing a phenomenal view of the park, is also the place where you can fully enjoy the exterior architecture of the palace. The most photographed place here is the front door, where you can see different styles and many preserved and restored elements of the old monastery. The most impressive figure on it is the newt, which symbolizes the creation of the world. The interior of the palace is as interesting as its exterior.
One of the most beautiful rooms is undoubtedly the Indian room. It is definitely the absolute pinnacle of lavish decoration, which some would even compare to light kitsch. The park to the palace is another place worth visiting. It is nearly 200 hectares and has a variety of vegetation, beautiful statues and fountains. The highest point in it is Cruz Alta, from where you can enjoy an exceptional view of the capital Lisbon. When you visit Pena Palace it is important to know that very often there are various discounts when buying tickets online.
The fortress of the Moors
Another place that definitely deserves your attention is the so-called Moorish fortress. It is located directly opposite the Pena Palace and many people liken it to a miniature copy of the Great Wall of China. The fortress was built by the Moors in the IX century, with a view of the sea and the whole area for better observation for defense. Over the years, it gradually declined due to the Crusades, suffered devastating fires and earthquakes, to almost complete destruction. Nowadays, the Moorish fortress has been restored and is open to the public.
The hidden Masonic greatness
One of the most interesting places in Sintra, however, remains the mansion “Quinta de Regaleira”. This is a mystical place, a mixture of many styles, but with a predominant Gothic touch. It was built in the 19th century and arouses mixed feelings in its visitors – excitement, admiration and even a little fear. The building of the manor is surrounded by interesting gardens, which are quite complex labyrinths, statues with mysterious symbols, in some places pagan, other religious.
Definitely this place arouses interest and curiosity, as it is believed to be associated with the Freemasons. In 1840, the wonderful mansion was bought by Baroness de Regaleira, daughter of Alphonse Allen, a wealthy merchant from Porto, and perhaps a Mason, who knows. That’s where his name comes from. The mansion is also called the “Millionaire Monteiro’s Mansion” because Antonio Monteiro, an extravagant millionaire, bought it at auction in 1893. He hired the architect Luigi Manini, who turned the building into a real architectural jewel – a mixture of Gothic, Romantic, Renaissance and Masonic. style. It is believed that he left a lot of hidden messages and symbols throughout the estate. The project was completed in 1911.
The interior of the building is just as impressive as its appearance. There is a huge fireplace in the dining room, which depicts many hunting scenes. One of the most beautiful rooms, however, is the Hall of Kings. Its ceiling is richly decorated with 20 kings and four queens of Portugal, as well as various characters from the glorious Portuguese history.
In the park to the yard there is a small chapel, which is decorated with scenes from the life of Christ. There are many Templar symbols on it as well.
The palace is as beautiful as it is mysterious. The most exciting and mysterious place here is the Well of Enlightenment, which has long been without water and is believed to have been used for various rituals and ceremonies. It is believed that this is where the Freemasons dedicated themselves to their brotherhood. One of the beliefs is that when the traveler descends into the well, with each step he is enveloped in deeper darkness and only the compass at the bottom, drawn above the waist of the Knights Templar, which always points to the east, reminds him that man always strives for light.
Another mysterious well near this one contains nine platforms, which is believed to symbolize the Nine Circles of Hell according to Dante. In addition to these strange places, there are many others in the gardens that are believed to be the work of Masonic art and genius. It is no coincidence that the whole mansion is called the “Palace of Mysteries”.
Free time
If you have some free time left after visiting these majestic mystical places, don’t forget to enjoy the local specialties in a restaurant in the very center of the city. In addition to places to relax and eat, there are many souvenir shops where you can buy various local products. The most popular are cork souvenirs, such as notebooks, cards, purses, bags and more.
