Date of trip: November 2009

While Will and I were visiting Portugal, we spent a day in Sintra, 45 minutes from Lisbon via a train that runs every 20 minutes. Unlike Lisbon, the town is full of character and charm and conjures up images of the Moors and Portuguese royalty.

Highlights:

-We started our day at Quinta da Regaleira, an estate reached by a 10 minute walk from the center of town. The mansion itself is impressive, but empty and the main reason to visit is the grounds. Full of ponds, forts and passages, the property is a Gothic playground that you could easily spend hours exploring. Although we were intrigued by the underground caves, we were too chicken to walk through the long, dark tunnels. I definitely think a flashlight would have come in handy here!

-The Palacio Nacional de Sintra served as a home to Portuguese royalty for centuries until the monarchy ended in 1910. The interior design is very interesting with detailed tiles portraying the theme of each room, including the Swan Room and the Magpie Room. Also of note is the sprawling kitchen with its giant, white, conical chimneys that reach up through the roof.

-Anywhere you stand in Sintra, you can see the Castelo dos Mouros sitting high on a hill. The Moorish Castle was built between the 8th and 10th centuries A.D. and getting there is a hike. The best way to reach the base is to buy a round trip bus ticket that includes a stop at the nearby Palacio Nacional de Pena. Once you arrive, be prepared for a climb. I only made it up one side, but the effort was worth it. With the entire town laid out below you, the view is incomparable.

-Not far from the Moorish Castle, on another hill, is the Palacio Nacional de Pena. With round, brightly colored towers and vaulted arches, it looks more like a mosque than a European palace. Inside, the rooms reflect its purpose as a summer residence for the Portuguese royal family until the end of their reign.

Sintra is a wonderful place that should not be overlooked. While I enjoyed my time in Lisbon, it is Sintra that has everything I had hoped to encounter in Portugal: beautiful architecture, a romantic history and lush, sweeping countryside.

For more pictures, please visit my Photo Gallery or click on any of the photos posted above.

Sintra Links:
Sintra Official Site

Date of trip: November 2009

Although I didn’t know much about Portugal, Will and I decided to check it out over Thanksgiving when we got a great deal on airfare. Lisbon is very spread out and hilly in some areas, kind of like San Francisco, but the public transportation is cheap and easy to figure out.

Highlights:

-My favorite section of Lisbon was Belem because there is so much to do there. The first thing you notice in Belem is Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, an imposing monastery that stretches more than a block down the street. It contains the royal tombs and is the final resting place of many notable Portuguese. It also has a beautiful two story cloister with a lion fountain in it. Apparently, it is customary to rub the lion’s paw and make a wish. Nearby, the brand new Berardo Museum displays a fantastic collection of modern art and, across the street, sits the truly awesome Monument to the Discoveries, a giant statue of famous explorers setting sail on the River Tagus. A short walk down the road brings you to the Tower of Belem, an old fortress built in the early 1500s which offers unparalleled views of the river and was used to spot approaching ships. From the top, you can see the 25 de Abril Bridge, which resembles and was built by the same company as San Francisco’s Golden Gate, and Cristo Rei, a 246ft monument of Jesus that was modelled after Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer. Back near the tram stop, the National Coach Museum, showcases one of the best collections of ceremonial and travel carriages in the world. Last but not least, a visit to Belem would not be complete without a stop at Pasteis de Belem, a famous cafe that has been serving up the best pasteis de nata, egg tarts, in Lisbon since 1837. The pastries are served warm and are traditionally sprinkled with cinnamon and powdered sugar. If you can’t get a table there’s a take out line where you can get the tarts to go.

-The Baixa District is the downtown area of Lisbon and its streets are lined with shops and restaurants. It’s a really pretty area, especially during the holiday season when it’s covered with bright colored lights. Since the area is situated at the bottom of two big hills, trams are a great way to get around and the Santa Justa Elevator connects Baixa to the Barrio Alto, or old town. The elevator is worth riding for the view alone and, if you’ve purchased a day pass for public transportation, it will cover the fare.

-The Parque de Nacoes, which was built for the Expo ’98 World Exhibition, remains a fun and popular place to visit. It is located at the city’s nicest metro stop, Oriente station. There are many gardens and trails in the park making it a great place to spend a nice day. There’s also a nice aquarium called the Oceanerio, and cable cars that glide overhead giving riders the best view of the Vasco de Gama bridge, one of the longest in the world.

I wouldn’t say I fell in love with Lisbon, but it is a lovely place. I wasn’t crazy about the food and the culture seemed heavily influenced by the English, Spanish and French. At the same time, the city did have a look all its own and strolling down the charming cobble stoned streets while admiring the old tiled buildings was the best part of my visit.

For more pictures, please visit my Photo Gallery or click on any of the photos posted above.

Lisbon Links:
Lisbon Official Site
Mosteiro dos Jerónimos
Berardo Museum
Tower of Belem
National Coach Museum
Pasteis de Belem – Portuguese Only
Parque de Nacoes