The Best of Sintra

Two massive, conical white chimneys rise above the rooftops of the town, serving as the most recognizable silhouette of the National Palace of Sintra. This sprawling complex, situated in the historic center, stands on the site of a…

The Castle of the Moors is defined by its double line of defensive walls that snake across the granite ridges of the Sintra Mountains. Built by North African Muslims during the eighth and ninth centuries, this fortification was intended to…

The National Palace of Pena is defined by its vibrant, multi-colored exterior, where sections of yellow, red, and purple walls collide in a striking display of Romantic architecture. Perched on a jagged peak in the Sintra mountains, the…

Quinta da Regaleira is distinguished by a Neo-Manueline palace bristling with pinnacles and stone carvings of fantastical winged animals. This four-hectare estate, located on a hillside in Sintra, was the private project of António Augusto…

The Palace of Monserrate is recognizable by its three distinct red domes and an ornate facade that blends Gothic, Indian, and Moorish architectural styles. Perched on the northern slope of the Sintra hills, this residence was the summer…

The Convent of the Capuchos is defined by its small, cave-like structures built directly into the mossy granite boulders of the Sintra mountains. Founded in fifteen sixty, this site was designed to be as inconspicuous as possible, with its…

Cabo da Roca is defined by its dramatic granite cliffs that plunge one hundred and forty meters into the Atlantic Ocean. As the westernmost point of mainland Europe, this windswept headland has been a nautical landmark since Roman times,…

Azenhas do Mar is defined by a cluster of whitewashed, red-roofed houses that appear to tumble down a limestone cliff directly into the Atlantic Ocean. Its name translates to watermills of the sea, a nod to the grain mills that once relied…