Reset search
Portugal
Satellite

Portugal
Sintra (Santa Maria e São Miguel)

Discover travel destinations of travelers writing a travel journal on FindPenguins.
Travelers at this place
    • TravelerEuro trip
      2111
      Day 6

      Sintra

      March 27 in Portugal ⋅ 🌧 14 °C

      We finally made it to Sintra today after a few days of thinking about it. I knew Sintra was going to be beautiful, and it still blew my expectations out of the water. To get there we had to take a bus to a train station then buy a pass for the train. The pass worked great at the first station, and then we got to Sintra. we tried scanning our pass to get through the gates and it denied both of us. Even a local couldn't figure it out. He then tried to run behind someone who scanned their card, but the gates slammed in his face and completely bodied him. I laughed so hard in his face, true comedy. We couldn't figure it out either, so we just jumped over a wall to get out lol. We had to hop on another bus, which took us up to Quinta Da Regaleria, where a mansion is built on the side of a mountain on 4 hectares of space. There's so much to see there's no way we didn't miss something even though we spent 5 hours there. We explored caves and tunnels as well as just walking through the garden. Pearse and I made a few "skits" we think are funny. It's so hard to only pick 2 videos for the posts, though. We're off to Porto tomorrow now, so I'd say it was the perfect way to spend the last day in Lisbon.Read more

    • Europe 2022 - 2023
      11111112
      Day 282

      Sintra, Portugal

      February 14, 2023 in Portugal

      We're back at it! After returning back to the USA for the holidays and to wait out the winter, we've returned to Europe. We're starting off this leg back where we left off, in the Iberian Peninsula. We flew into Lisbon and traveled to our first stop in Sintra, about 40 minutes west. This time we also have Emily's father John with us for a few weeks.

      Sintra is said by many both past and present to be the most beautiful place in Portugal. It's very easy to see why. Romantic elegance of the old town cobbled streets that meet and disappear into the natural beauty of the forrests,, national parks, and mountains. Sintra is a magical place that boasts grand palaces and castles within walking distance. We were fortunate enough to visit Quinta de Regaleira, Castelo dos Muros, and the palace of Monserrate. They were all outstanding with the later being perhaps our favorite due to its elaborate gardens with plants from across the globe. Just 30km from Lisbon Sintra swept us back in time and had such a storybook feel it was hard not to adore this town. Just beware of the hills and bring good walking shoes!

      While Sintra has evidence of early human settlement from the Paleolithic era and has been occupied by the Romans, it's the Moorish occupation that feels most prominent. As already stated, we visited Castelo dos Muros which was built between the 8th and 9th centuries. While a fortress, it's primary function was that of a lookout point for the surrounding area and the bay leading to Lisbon. The Moors remained in this area until driven out by the first king of Portugal, Alfonzo V, drove them out in 1147.

      Quinta da Regaleira was a private residence. The construction as it is seen today began in 1904. It is rumored to have connections to the Knights Templar and their initiation well.      Read more

    • TravelerCamino De Santiago - Portugues
      3
      Day 3

      Sintra

      April 6 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F

      After touring the Pena Palace we went into the town of Sintra for lunch. Sintra was full of narrow streets winding up steep hills full of small restaurants and shops. It was quite beautiful but crazy busy with people. For lunch we decided the best course of action, to find a quiet place to eat, was to climb to the top of the steepest street. It was a perfect plan. We found a nice refreshing place, with great service, for lunch .

      After lunch we had a nice stroll through town while dodging all the tourists. I can’t imagine what the busy summer season must be like.      Read more

    • TravelerCamino 2024
      31
      Day 4

      How many palaces is too many?

      June 29 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

      Sintra is a beautiful and hilly town with at least 10 palaces in its vicinity. Way too many for me to visit this trip but I got to see one today and will visit one or two tomorrow.

      The streets of Sintra are narrow and wind their way through the hills. So walking from my bed and breakfast to the palace and shops, i walked these twisted roads, surrounded by shops and restaurants that are built into the hillside and staggered on top of each other.

      The National Palace of Sintra was first built in the 1100s and had wings, courtyards and floors added to it by almost every monarchy after. Most of what is on display today is from King Luis I and Queen Maria Pia, the last king and queen of portugal.

      Again, the familiar portuguese tiles, Azulejos, adorn almost every room. The azulejos here are notable because they are more in the Islamic style (raised and textured) than in other historic sites.

      Most of the ceilings were decorated with birds, a theme that was never properly addressed by the audio tour but maybe wasn’t as weird back then? They also had old dowry chests laying around everywhere - again, totally unexplained.

      My favorite room (aside from the gift shop) was Heraldic hall. The domed ceiling was at least 60 feet tall and every inch of that room was covered in azulejos or gold. It was over the top but i found myself feeling very grateful to the artists and craftsmen who devoted their lives to building it.

      The courtyard just outside the palace had an orchestra performing. It was lively and fun and there were children dancing. I also saw where Lord Bryon stayed when he visited (now full of cafes, stores, and apartments) which partially inspired him in Childe Harold to reference Sintra as ‘Glorious Eden.’ I have to agree.

      The courtyard is called “Terreriro da Rainha d Amelia”, which roughly translates to the Yard of Queen Amelia. My niece’s middle name is Raine and my daughter is Amelia so it was a serendipitous moment for me.

      Queen Maria Pia seemed to have over the top girly taste. Ive included a picture of her chandler and her umm ‘throne’ room.      Read more

    • Camino Portuguese
      111111
      Day 3–4

      SINTRA

      April 3 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 64 °F

      As the sun began to wane, we arrived at the enchanting Moon Hill Hostel, our home for the night. After settling in, we ventured out to explore the picturesque Vila de Sintra, renowned for its romanticist architecture and rich history. The streets were bustling with activity, as vendors sold their wares and musicians serenaded passersby. We marveled at the grandeur of the royal palaces, the Pena National Palace, and the historic estates and gardens, all of which were steeped in centuries-old tales. The Castle of the Moors stood atop a hill, casting a watchful eye over the town below. As we rode in and out of Sintra, we were captivated by its magical charm. Although we only had a few hours to spend, its impression will last forever 💕Read more

    • TravelerIceland and Camino
      Day 30

      Sintra - castles and more castles

      September 28 in Portugal ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

      Sept 28th
      Sintra & castles, castles and  more castles...
      We took the train to Sintra today. Sintra is a  longtime royal sanctuary, its forested terrain is studded with pastel-colored villas and palaces.
      We stopped at Pena Palace first. It's built at 500 meters above sea level. It's a beautiful example of Portuguese architecture of romaticism. It was built in 1839 when King consort Ferdinand II of Saxe Coburg-Gotha attained the ruins of the Monastery of your Lady of Jerome Pena.
      Next we visited the Moorish Castle, dated back to the Islamic rule of the first King of Portugal - ot was never battled because ots function was not to defend the village itself but the vigilance of Lisbon and it's surroundings.
      And finally, thd Regaleira Palace. Located I  the old quarter of Sintra and classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO, Quinta da Regaleira was built at the end of the 19th C in the spirit of romanticism. And true to that, we stumbled upon an engagement in progress. The architecture apparently held symbols related to alchemy, Masonry, the Knights Templar, and the Rosicrucians.

      The Initiation Wells (also called initiatic wells or inverted towers) are two wells on the property that better resemble underground towers lined with stairs. These wells never served as water sources. Instead, they were purportedly used for ceremonial purposes. Tunnels connect these wells to one another, in addition to various caves and other monuments located around the park.

      Of the two wells, the larger one contains a 27-metre spiral staircase with 23 small niches on the side. The nine flights of stairs could be linked to the Knights Templar, which had nine founders. They might also symbolize the 9 levels of Hell from Dantes’ Inferno. At the bottom of the well is an inland stone compass with the Templar cross. Other references may be to Freemasonry, Rosicrucianism rituals.      Read more

    • TravelerSabbatical Adventures
      1
      Day 84

      Day 84, Sintra

      May 2, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 66 °F

      Common travel story. Sintra is a town known for its castles. We visited three today. As expected: Unique architecture, money, powerful people, turrets, gardens, views, fancy beds. All interesting and (maybe) memorable. 🏰 BUT the highlight of our day had nothing to do with the legacy of royalty. The highlight was meeting over dinner and getting to know two Iranian brothers. Hearing their stories, learning about their histories, sharing their dreams. Lots of laughter ending in the exchange of contact information and hugs. That’s why we travel. Priceless.Read more

    • Que se paso ? No se bueno
      1
      1111
      Day 63

      Buffalo el nuevo Pinguino 🐧

      May 10 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

      Vendredi 10 mai, on quitte notre camping à Zambujeira, direction Lisbonne et plus précisément Sintra, où un certain Jan, originaire de Belgique, a accepté de nous accueillir pour 2 nuits dans son appartement 🥰

      En arrivant à la gare routière de Lisbonne, quelle ne fut pas notre surprise lorsque nous apercevons Buffalo (ou Bubu pour les intimes), un des membres des Rails du Climat, qui nous attendait avec impatience pour rejoindre Los Pinguinos !!
      C’est donc avec une grande joie que nous vous annonçons que Los Pinguinos sera désormais constitué de 3 pingouins pour une durée d’environ 1 mois, avant que Buffalo prenne son envol vers d’autres horizons ⛰️

      Une fois Bubu récupéré, on part en direction de chez Jan, qui nous accueille avec des petites cerveza et qui nous présente son fils Joseph (encore un !!), grand fan de Mario : il regarde le film Mario Bros au moins 2x par jour et possède un magnifique costume du plombier moustachu 🥸🔧

      Samedi 11 mai, visite du Palacio da Pena et de son parc 🏰 L’extérieur vaut bien plus le coup que l’intérieur, les couleurs du Palacio sont vraiment très belles et la visite est très sympathique, malgré la météo qui n’est pas vraiment clémente ce jour-là 🌦️
      On enchaîne avec une petite balade au cœur de Sintra, et on en profite pour goûter les spécialités locales (Queijadas, Travesseiros) : on se régale 😋

      Los Pinguinos 🐧🐧🐧      Read more

      See translation
    • TravelerWeitwandern / Pilgern Portugal
      2
      1111
      Day 14

      Sintra 4/Eindrücke/Fakten

      April 30 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

      Bevor es morgen weitergeht
      Noch einige Eindrücke von Sintra
      Straßenmusik wird überall gemacht
      Tuk Tuks, elektrobetriebene Autos im Oldiesstil und Puaggios bestimmen hier neben Hop on und Hop offs das Straßenleben
      Noch ist nicht Saison und trotzdem stehen bei den Sehenswürdigkeiten Schlangen an, denn es kommen stündlich die Tages-Touristen aus Lissabon mit Bussen und Zügen
      Von meinem Fenster aus dem Hostel sehe ich am Abend die Burg und den Nationalpalast beleuchtet
      Beinah hätt ich vergessen, Fotos von der Burg hochzuladen, auf der es sehr windig war, aber die Aussicht war grandios.
      Zu meinen Fakten der letzten 14 Tage
      3427,5km mit Zug
      482,2km mit Bus und Taxi
      50,0km mit Schiff und
      222,7km zu Fuß zurückgelegt      Read more

      See translation
    • TravelerPortugal
      312
      Day 3

      Day tour to Sintra Stop 1: Regaleira

      May 8 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

      We had a great sleep and were up at 6:30 to get breakfast and Uber to the meeting spot for our tour day. We found our guide easily and we had two guides b/c one was training. We were a small group of 8. One of the couples was from Quebec City. We had a nice lunch of tapas with them and learned that they both work in Cancer Research🥰
      Our tour centered in Sintra, the location of the Moorish Castle Sintra National Palace, Moorish Castle, Regaleira (inverted, initiation and inverted well) and Pena Palace.

      On the way to Sintra, we saw the Aquaduct which survived the big earthquake b/c it was newly built.  It was used until 60's. A story shared was about a
      serial killer who threw btwn 50-70  people over the aquaduct. The police thought these people committed suicide.
      But police saw him commit the crime one day. He threw a person over the side of the aquaduct.  He was the last to be executed. They kept his head to study his brain. His head is in the Univ museum. The aquaduct is now a museum.

       A castle is a fort to protect something
      A palace is considered a house,  like a mansion

      Sintra is the location where the Royal Family came to their summer Palace. This made it a popular place for people to travel to.

      Sintra is Unesco World Heritage Site

      9 gates in 1999 with Johnny Depp. The movie takes place inside Beister House in Sintra

      Dante's Divine Comedy poem describes how one goes through hell, pergatory and paradise.

      The inverted well reflects this and has 9 levels of hell. Each level representing a different sin.

      There was a Secret Society of free masons. To belong one needed 3 things.

      Luigi Manini, one of the well creators, wanted to be part of the society and needed 3 things to belong:
      Proof of importance, $ and ritual (well). Antony, his partner, who was very brilliant creatively, had the $ (millions from gold, silver, coffee) which was why Luigi paired with him on this venture.
      Their goal, together, was to build a perfect society

      9 is close to perfection which is 10, but you can never reach it. Everything they did relates to the #9

      9 levelsx15 steps = 135 (1+3+5=9)

      27 m deep (2+7=9)

      9 floors in well

      3 tunnels exits

      Steps on water at the end, to prove you could walk on water.
      The free masons saw this well as a rebirth going through 9 months of birth then finish on the water and emerge reborn.
      It starts with an entrance in the North on the dark side and emerges in the South or light side

      There are many nautical symbols in the architecture because of the proximity to the sea ( port holes for windows, knotted rope, shells, fish, etc)

      We walked the 45 minutes back to our Airbnb and on the way found a nice restaurant to eat and enjoy a drink.      Read more

    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Sintra (Santa Maria e São Miguel), Sintra (Santa Maria e Sao Miguel)

    Join us:

    FindPenguins for iOSFindPenguins for Android

    • 2024© FindPenguins
    • Home
    • About us
    • Blog
    • Group Tracking
    • Press
    • Terms
    • Privacy Policy & Cookies
    • Support
    • Legal notice