Sintra Cabo da Roca and Cascais

Castelo dos Mouros - Moorish Castle – Sintra
Monuments
Skirting two Sintra mountain ranges, the Moorish Castle dates back to the early days of the Moorish occupation of the Peninsula - the eighth century.
After many attempts, was finally taken by Dom Afonso Henriques first king of Portugal in 1147, and was built the first Christian Chapel of the city, dedicated to St. Peter of Penaferrim.
In the romantic period, in 1860, the walls were restored under the supervision of Dom Fernando II, husband of Dona Maria II, who wooded the surrounding areas, and gave a new dignity to the ancient medieval ruins. Noteworthy is the Moorish Cistern inside and the so-called Royal Tower.
Located about 3.5 km from the historic center of Sintra.

Park and National Palace of Pena - Park and National Palace of Pena
Museums and Palaces
Pena National Palace
Visit the fantastic Pena Palace exponent of 19th century Romanticism in Portugal. Set on the top of Monte da Pena, the palace was built on the site of a former monastery. Built by D. Fernando de Saxe Coburg-Gotha, who married Queen Dona Maria II in 1836. After falling in love with Sintra, he decided to buy the convent and surrounding lands to build a summer palace for the royal family.
A restaurant has been installed in one of the palace wings, with a terrace offering a beautiful panoramic view over the Sintra Mountains and the coast.

Centro Historico de Sintra - Sintra village from the municipal heritage to the world heritage, properly classified by UNESCO, visit the historical center of the romantic village of Sintra, many buildings and remains of various periods and cultural movements remain.

Sintra National Palace - Sintra National Palace
Museums and Palaces

The Sintra National Palace is unique among the royal medieval palaces in Portugal and the most distinguished building in the village of Sintra.
From the first dynasties of the country, Sintra was one of the favorite places of Portuguese kings and queens, although the palace we can see today was an initiative of Dom João I, who rebuilt it, and Dom Manuel I, which enriched the building’s decorative character. and added a new wing.
Visit the interior of the palace, where you will surely discover a little more about the history of Portugal. The decoration is quite remarkable, being a combination of various artistic styles that depended on the respective tastes of the kings who lived here, and designed to give the various rooms different names. In particular, it draws visitors’ attention to the Swan Room, the Armory Room, the Magpie or the Reading Room and the chapel.

Quinta da Regaleira - Palace and Quinta da Regaleira
Museums and Palaces
Very close to the historic center of Sintra is Quinta da Regaleira, one of the most enigmatic sights of Sintra.
Quinta da Regaleira was built in the early twentieth century by millionaire Antonio Augusto Carvalho Monteiro (1848-1920), who managed to realize one of his dreams here with the help of scenographic architect Luigi Manini (1848-1936). Surrounded by lush greenery, Palácio da Regaleira is a fascinating discovery.
The palace was built in a romantic revivalist style, imitating Gothic, Manueline and Renaissance architectural and decorative forms, mixed with mythical and esoteric symbolism.
A special mention is reserved for the Holy Trinity Chapel, where visitors can take a spiral staircase down to the crypt to discover the monumental initiation pit that, deep down, leads through a cave to an amazing lake hidden in the middle of the gardens. .

Parque e Palacio de Monserrate - Museums and Palaces
Park and Palace of Monserrate
This fantastic Romantic park was created by William Beckford, who fell in love with the Sintra Mountain.

Cabo da Roca - Cabo da Roca

Other

If you go to Sintra, don’t miss the chance to visit the westernmost point of mainland Europe, Cabo da Roca.
Located at latitude 38º 47´north and longitude 9º 30´west, Cabo da Roca is an important coordinate for those sailing along the coast, as it is the most westerly point of mainland Europe, a fact borne out by the certificates that visitors take away as a souvenir.

Around 150 metres above the sea, here you can have a panoramic view over the Serra de Sintra and the coast, which makes it worth the visit.

Historical records indicate that there was a fort on Cabo da Roca in the 17th century that played an important part in guarding the entrance to Lisbon’s harbour, forming a defensive line along the coast, especially during the Peninsular Wars. Today there are only traces, as well as the lighthouse which is still an important point for navigation.

Boca do Inferno - Boca do Inferno is located on the Costa da Guia, west of the village of Cascais, in Portugal.

The name “Boca do Inferno” attributed to this place is due to the morphological analogy and the tremendous and frightening impact of the waves that make themselves felt there.

The characteristic that makes up the rock in the cliff is of carbonated nature. The erosion exerted by the action of rainwater that, containing dissolved carbon dioxide, causes the dissolution of the carbonate. Through this process cavities and caves are formed inside the limestones.

It may well have been an old grotto. With the abasement of the upper layers the cave will have been destroyed, leaving an enormous cavity in the open.

With unique characteristics, it is a place of leisure, where you can enjoy a divine landscape and magnificent sunsets, being only overshadowed by not rare suicides committed in its dangerous and unprotected cliff.

Cascais - Cascais

Towns and Villages

Situated close to the sea and traditionally a fishing village, Cascais enjoyed an important period of development in the 14th century, when it was a major stopping off point for boats on their way to Lisbon, turning it into a very busy port at that time.

It was, however, in the second half of the 19th century, when sea bathing became a popular activity, that Cascais was given the impetus that transformed it into a very fashionable summer resort. The great driving force behind this transformation was the king of Portugal, Dom Luís I, who, in 1870, converted the Fortaleza da Cidadela into the summer residence of the Portuguese monarchy.

Algarve “Portimão and Lagos”

Marina de Portimao - Located in the estuary of the River Arade, Portimão is known for its excellent sandy beaches with plenty of warm, calm waters, which make it a very alluring holiday destination.

Portimão has a long fishing tradition that developed particularly between the 19th and 20th centuries with the advent of the canning industry and tourism. Most of the buildings that you see in the streets and squares of the historic centre are from this period, as well as the building that houses the Portimão Museum, a superb refurbishment of an old cannery that received the Museum of the Year award from the Council of Europe in 2010. It pays homage to the people and the city that for centuries have lived exclusively of and for the sea.

Praia da Rocha - Praia da Rocha is a beach in the municipality of Portimão, Algarve (Portugal). This beach has a large expanse of sand, covering a total area of 146 000 m², along 1.5 km of coastline. Next to the beach stands the Santa Catarina Fortress, built in the 17th century to ensure the defense of the Arade river bar.

Lagos - Lagos is a town in the Algarve region in southern Portugal. It is known for its walled old town, cliffs and Atlantic beaches. Steep wooden steps lead to the sandy cove of Camilo Beach. The nearby cliffs of Ponta da Piedade offer stunning views of the headland and a lighthouse. St. Anthony’s Church, an ornate 18th-century church, is opposite the Governors’ Castle, a castle with a baroque facade and towers.

Praia Dona Ana - The Praia da Dona Ana is one of the most picturesque beaches of the Algarve, and is a great location for your day on the beach.
The Dona Ana beach is located to the south of Lagos and is situated within the limestone cliffs of the Ponta da Piedade headland. This is a beautiful natural setting; the highly eroded cliffs reveal layers of golden strata, the calm sea waters are an idyllic turquoise colour, and the sands are soft and inviting. Along with the wonderful scenery, there are are all the expected facilities of a popular beach, including beach restaurants, shops and showers!

Praia do Camilo - It is a small beach between cliffs, with interesting rock formations. Its waters are clear and calm. Access to the beach is by a long staircase.

• Private transportation
• On-board WiFi
• Bottled water
• In-vehicle air conditioning

• Food and drinks
• Cave boat trip
• Tickets