Sintra, Cabo da Roca, Guincho, and Cascais

Park and National Palace of Pena - The magnificent Pena Palace is one of the finest examples of 19th-century romantic revivalism in Portugal.

Located on the Pena Hill, the Palace was built on the site of a former monastery of the Order of Saint Jerome. It was the brainchild of King Ferdinand II of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, who married Queen Maria II in 1836. Enchanted by Sintra, he decided to acquire the monastery and surrounding lands to construct the royal family’s summer residence.

The king consort adopted Portuguese architectural and decorative styles for the palace, in line with the revivalist taste (neo-Gothic, neo-Manueline, neo-Islamic, neo-Renaissance) and created a magnificent English-style park with a variety of exotic tree species.

Inside, still decorated in the style of the kings who lived there, the chapel stands out, featuring a magnificent alabaster marble altarpiece attributed to Nicolau Chanterenne (one of the architects of the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon). Also noteworthy are the trompe l’oeil murals and the tile coverings.

Sintra - Take time to stroll through the narrow streets of Sintra Village and enjoy its traditional conventual pastries.

Next, there are two options to visit:

1 - National Palace;
2 - Quinta da Regaleira

Sintra National Palace - The millennial history of the Sintra National Palace begins during the Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula. Already mentioned in the 11th century, the original Moorish palace - owned by the Portuguese Crown after the conquest of Lisbon by King Afonso Henriques (1147), the first King of Portugal - was first intervened in 1281, during the reign of King Dinis. New structures were added over time, under the reigns of King Dinis, King João I, and King Manuel I, maintaining its silhouette since the mid-16th century.

The arrangement of spaces in height, adapting to the terrain; the intimate organization of open-air interior courtyards, where the sound of running water can be heard; its windows with horseshoe arches; and the rich geometric patterned tile coverings, highlight the Moorish connection of the artisans who built and embellished the Palace.

Quinta da Regaleira - Quinta da Regaleira is one of the most surprising monuments in the Sintra Mountains. Located at the end of the historic center of the village, it was built between 1904 and 1910, during the last period of the monarchy.

The romantic domains once belonged to the Viscountess of Regaleira, were acquired and expanded by Dr. António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro (1848-1920) to establish his chosen place. Possessing a prodigious fortune, which earned him the nickname Monteiro dos Milhões, he associated his unique architectural and landscape project with the creative genius of Italian architect and set designer Luigi Manini (1848-1936) as well as the mastery of sculptors, stonemasons, and carvers who had worked with him at the Buçaco Palace Hotel.

A man of scientific spirit, vast culture, and rare sensitivity, a notable bibliophile, discerning collector, and great philanthropist, he left imprinted in this stone book the vision of a cosmology, a synthesis of the spiritual memory of humanity, whose roots delve into the Mythical Lusitanian and Universal Tradition. The architecture and art of the palace, chapel, and other constructions were scenically conceived in the context of an Edenic garden, highlighting the predominance of neo-Manueline and Renaissance styles.

The garden, a representation of the microcosm, is revealed by a succession of places imbued with magic and mystery. Paradise is materialized in coexistence with an inferius - a Dantesque underground world - to which the neophyte would be led by Ariadne’s thread of initiation.

These scenarios embody the representation of an initiatory journey, a true peregrinatio mundi, through a symbolic garden where one can feel the Harmony of the Spheres and scrutinize the alignment of an ascension of consciousness that travels through the great epics. References to mythology, Olympus, Virgil, Dante, Camões, the Templar mission of the Order of Christ, great mystics and thaumaturges, the enigmas of the Royal Art, the Great Alchemical Work can be glimpsed. In this symphony of stone, the poetic and prophetic dimension of a Lusitanian Philosophical Mansion is revealed. Here, Heaven and Earth merge into a sensitive reality, the same that presided over the theory of Beauty, Architecture, and Music, which the acoustic shell of the Terrace of the Celestial Worlds allows to propagate into infinity.

Cabo da Roca - Cabo da Roca is the westernmost point of the European Continent or, as Luís Vaz de Camões wrote, the place “Where the Land ends and the sea begins” (in The Lusiads, Canto VIII). A stone marker with a plaque highlights this geographical peculiarity to all who visit this location.
Cabo da Roca is also known as “Focinho da Roca” by those connected to the sea, and more poetically as “Promontory of the Moon.” It is part of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, which encompasses a vast area of natural interest and scenic beauty that stretches from the Citadel of Cascais to the mouth of the Falcão River. From Cabo da Roca, it is possible to follow various eco-trails.
At Cabo da Roca, visitors are greeted with a spectacular landscape, an imposing lighthouse, and various infrastructures. It is also here that one of the rarest plant species, “armeria pseudoarmeria,” can be found.
Being located in an area with easy access and high tourist influx, numerous people visit it.

Guincho Beach - Near Cascais, the extensive sandy beach of Guincho is highly sought after by bathers during the summer season and throughout the year by surfers and windsurfers, for whom this beach offers excellent conditions.

Along the road by the sea, numerous high-quality restaurants offer excellent dishes of fresh fish and seafood.

Cascais - Situated by the sea and traditionally a fishing village, Cascais experienced significant development in the 14th century when it was a bustling port of call for ships heading to Lisbon.

However, it was from the second half of the 19th century, when sea bathing began to be appreciated, that Cascais underwent a transformation that turned it into a fashionable summer resort. The main driver of this transformation was King Luís I of Portugal, who in 1870 converted the citadel fortress into the summer residence of the Portuguese monarchy. This example was followed by the nobility, who built mansions and beautiful villas here where they spent the hottest season of the year, completely transforming the former fishing village.

Cascais also began to attract curious visitors, whose access was facilitated by the inauguration of the railway line between Pedrouços and Cascais in 1889. Today, Cascais is a lively and cosmopolitan town that still retains its aristocratic air.

A stroll through its streets, which have excellent quality shops, or a moment of relaxation on one of the many terraces here is recommended. The beaches continue to be one of the main attractions, with a choice between those located in the sheltered bay of the town or those a little further away in the Guincho area (already part of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park) that offer excellent conditions for surfing and windsurfing. The Boca do Inferno, a coastal indentation surrounded by steep cliffs and caves, remains a natural curiosity that attracts many visitors to witness the power of the sea.

Highlighting the gastronomy, especially the fresh fish and seafood, which can be savored in the many restaurants in the region.

Estoril - A world-renowned resort, Estoril is a true cosmopolitan center of great nightlife and has all the necessary infrastructure for a major summer resort - beaches, excellent hotels, golf courses, a casino, and even a racetrack.

It was at the beginning of the 20th century that the planned transformation of this locality began, due not only to the proximity of the sea, which was becoming an attraction, but also due to the existence of thermal springs that were very fashionable at the time.

The center of this new luxury resort was the Park and the Casino (the ex-libris of Estoril), surrounded by arcaded buildings and excellent hotels.

Previously, Estoril was known for the various Forts along the coast that ensured the defense of one of the possible entrances to Lisbon and for the Retreat built by the Mendicant Order of Franciscan Friars in the 16th century, transformed into the Salesian College.

From 1930, Estoril became one of the main exponents of tourism in Portugal, having been the chosen place for the exile of many deposed European monarchs, among whom King Juan Carlos of Spain can be mentioned.

During World War II, it was a refuge for writers, politicians, artists, businessmen, and many Jews persecuted by the Third Reich.

Fátima, Batalha, Nazaré, and Óbidos

Fátima - With remote origins, it was the Arab domain that marked the development of the place and gave it its name. According to legend, during the Christian Reconquest, the Templar knight Gonçalo Hermingues, known as Traga-Mouros, fell in love with Fátima, a Moorish captive during an ambush. Corresponding to the love, the young woman converted to Christianity, taking the name Oureana.

In the 16th century, the locality was elevated to a parish of the collegiate church of Ourém, then integrating into the Diocese of Leiria.

The locality developed significantly from the event of the Apparitions of Fátima, at the beginning of the 20th century, becoming one of the largest centers of Marian worship in Portugal, recognized worldwide by the Catholic Church.

The first apparition took place in 1917, at the site of Cova da Iria, where the Sanctuary is currently located. The largest manifestations of devotees occurred on May 13 (highlighting the Candlelight Procession on the night of the 12th and the Farewell Procession on the 13th, which closes the celebrations) and on October 13. However, between these two dates, every 13th is a day of devotion.

Related to the cult of Our Lady of Fátima, the houses where the visionary shepherds lived can be visited in the village of Aljustrel.

In the yard of Lúcia’s House, a monument marks the 2nd apparition of the Angel of Peace and the end of the Way of the Cross, started at the Sanctuary. Along the way, there are 14 chapels offered by Hungarian Catholics who took refuge in the West. The passage through Valinhos, 400 meters from the village, where monuments mark the site of the 4th apparition in 1917 and the Loca do Anjo, where in 1916 the shepherds saw the Angel of Peace for the 1st and 3rd times, stands out.

Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima - This Marian pilgrimage center evokes the apparitions of Our Lady to the three shepherd children Lúcia, Francisco, and Jacinta, which occurred in 1917 and were recognized in 1930. The site was a rural property, called Cova da Iria, and belonged to Lúcia’s parents, who donated it to the sanctuary. It was here that five of the six apparitions took place.

The Sanctuary includes the Chapel of the Apparitions, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, the Prayer Area, and the Basilica of the Holy Trinity. Complementing the Sanctuary are the Retreat Houses of Our Lady of Sorrows and Our Lady of Carmel and the Paul VI Pastoral Center.

The Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary was built according to a project by the Dutchman Gerardus van Krieken and continued by the architect João Antunes. The first stone was blessed on May 13, 1928, and the church was dedicated on October 7, 1953. The following year, it was granted the title of Basilica by Pope Pius XII.

The architectural and decorative style is very simple. Inside, there are 14 side altars dedicated to the mysteries of the Rosary. The stained glass windows and paintings that adorn the church are by João de Sousa Araújo; they date from 1967 and represent scenes alluding to the life of Our Lady, the Apparitions, and the Message of Fátima. Those in the chancel, representing the Evangelists, the Apparition of the Angel, and scenes of Pilgrimage, were created by the Madrid society Maumejean y Hijos. On the right side of the transept, the Gospel side, is the tomb of Francisco, who died in 1919. On the left side, the Epistle side, is the tomb of Jacinta, who died in 1920; next to her is the tomb of Sister Lúcia, who died in 2005. Francisco and Jacinta Marto were canonized at the Fátima Sanctuary on May 13, 2017, during the International Anniversary Pilgrimage of the Centenary of the Apparitions, presided over by Pope Francis.

Also noteworthy is the Italian-made organ, dating from 1952, consisting of 152 registers and about 12,000 pipes.

It is one of the most important Marian sanctuaries belonging to the Catholic Church worldwide and one of the main international destinations for religious tourism, receiving about six million visitors per year. It has been visited by Popes Paul VI (1967), John Paul II (1982, 1991, and 2000), Benedict XVI (2010), and Francis (2017). The annual pilgrimages are celebrated on the 13th, from May to October.

Valinhos Sanctuary - Every 13th, from May to October, the Fátima Sanctuary receives thousands of pilgrims and tourists to celebrate the dates of the apparitions of Our Lady to the three visionaries and to visit all the places related to this cult.

In addition to the Sanctuary, built where the first apparition took place, there is a Way of the Cross in Aljustrel, about 2 kilometers away, that goes through the places where Lúcia de Jesus (10 years old) and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto (9 and 7 years old respectively) saw the Angel and Our Lady.

In 1916, between April and October, the Angel appeared three times to the children, inviting them to prayer and penance.
On May 13, 1917, while tending a small flock in Cova da Iria and after praying the rosary around noon, they suddenly saw a light and a “Lady brighter than the Sun” on top of a small holm oak (where the Chapel of the Apparitions now stands).
The Lady told the three shepherds that they should pray a lot and invited them to return to Cova da Iria during the next five months, always on the 13th and at that hour.
The children did so, and on June 13, July, September, and October, the Lady appeared again and spoke to them.
On August 19, the apparition took place at the site of Valinhos, about 500 meters from the place of Aljustrel, as on the 13th the children had been taken by the County Administrator to Vila Nova de Ourém.

In the last apparition, on October 13, before about 70,000 people, the Lady told them that she was the “Lady of the Rosary” and asked them to build a chapel in Her honor.
After the apparition, all those present witnessed the miracle: the Sun, resembling a silver disc, could be looked at without difficulty and spun on itself like a wheel of fire, seeming to plummet to the earth.

Subsequently, Lúcia (converted to a religious of Saint Dorothy) had three more visions of Our Lady in Spain (on December 10, 1925, February 15, 1926, and the night of June 13/14, 1929), asking for the devotion of the first five Saturdays and the Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This last request was part of the so-called “Secret of Fátima” - a set of revelations that Lúcia is said to have written to inform Pope Pius XII.

On October 13, 1930, the Bishop of Leiria declared the apparitions worthy of belief and officially authorized the cult of Our Lady of Fátima, by the provision “A Divina Providência.”

On May 13, 2000, Pope John Paul II beatified, in Fátima, the visionaries Francisco and Jacinta Marto.

Batalha Monastery - One of the most fascinating sites in the Iberian Peninsula.

Near the site where the Batalha Monastery stands, on August 14, 1385, a decisive event for the consolidation of the Portuguese nation took place: King João, Master of Avis and future king of Portugal, defeated the Castilian armies in the Battle of Aljubarrota. This victory ended a dynastic crisis that had been dragging on since 1383, when King Fernando died, whose only daughter was married to the King of Castile, a pretender to the Portuguese throne.

King João dedicated the monastery to the Virgin Mary, whom he had invoked to intercede for his triumph, and donated it to the Dominican Order, to which his confessor belonged. This was the reason for the birth of a work whose construction would last for almost two centuries and resulted in one of the most fascinating Gothic monuments in the Iberian Peninsula. The construction of the monastery also embodied the consecration of King João I as king of Portugal, thus assuming itself as a symbol of the new dynasty and legitimized by divine will.

Its architectural value and historical significance motivated the classification of the monument as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983.

The construction spanned seven reigns of the second dynasty (1385-1580) and involved a vast team of high-level master masons, both national and foreign, who were initially directed by Afonso Domingues until his death in 1402. During this period, part of the church and the royal cloister were erected. He was succeeded by Master Huguet, an Englishman, who until 1438 completed the church, built the founder’s chapel, and began the pantheon of King Duarte. Between 1448 and 1477, Fernão de Évora designed the cloister of King Afonso V, and in the 16th century, Mateus Fernandes was responsible for the Unfinished Chapels.

The monastery houses the most important collection of medieval Portuguese stained glass, which can be admired in the Main Chapel and the Chapter House. The central nave of the church rises to 32.5 meters and rests on eight columns on each side. In addition to the chapels and cloisters, the dormitory, refectory, and kitchen of the monastery can also be visited.

The square outside was once largely occupied by the Cloister of King João III. Burned during the Napoleonic Wars, it was demolished during the restoration works undertaken in the mid-19th century. In the middle of the square, a plaque reproduces the marks of various masons and marks the site of the old Church of Santa Maria-a-Velha, the primitive temple where the builders of the monastery attended liturgical services.

Nazaré - A typical fishing village, Nazaré is today a popular summer resort that has managed to maintain its traditions linked to the sea. The Sítio, at the highest point of the village (accessible by an elevator), is undoubtedly its best viewpoint. It is also linked to the cult of Our Lady of Nazaré, who, according to the 12th-century legend, was invoked by the mayor D. Fuas Roupinho, who, while pursuing a deer, was about to fall into the abyss, with no possible salvation. As a token of gratitude for the grace he received, D. Fuas Roupinho had a small chapel built here - the Ermida da Memória. A short distance away, the Sanctuary was built in the 18th century, from where grand festivities are held in September.

The connection of the people of Nazaré to the sea is well evident in the local crafts, which include nets, buoys, baskets, and traditional dolls dressed in the typical seven-skirt costumes, and in the gastronomy, which is dominated by fish and seafood dishes, such as Caldeiradas, Soups, açorda, and seafood rice, and dried horse mackerel.

In the surroundings, the Chapel of São Gião (7th century), one of the rare Visigothic temples in Portugal, stands out.

Currently, the great attraction of this city is the waves and surfing, thanks to the “Nazaré Canyon,” a submarine geomorphological phenomenon that allows the formation of giant and perfect waves. It is the largest submerged canyon in Europe, about 170 kilometers along the coast, reaching a depth of 5000 meters.

Hawaiian surfer Garrett McNamara gave it worldwide visibility when, in 2011, he rode the largest wave in the world on a sandy bottom, about 30 meters, at Praia do Norte, winning the Billabong XXL Global BigWave Awards and setting a Guinness Book record. Like him, surfers from all over the world visit Nazaré every year to venture into the sea. On the beach, sunbathing is also appreciated and provides an excellent audience to admire the feats of these young people.

Óbidos - The medieval town of Óbidos is one of the most picturesque and well-preserved in Portugal.

Close enough to the capital and situated on a high point near the Atlantic coast, Óbidos had strategic importance in the territory. Already occupied before the Romans arrived in the Iberian Peninsula, the town became more prosperous from the moment it was chosen by the royal family. Since King Dinis offered it to his wife Queen Isabel in the 13th century, it belonged to the House of Queens, which, over the various dynasties, benefited and enriched it. This is one of the main reasons why there are so many churches in this small locality.

Within the walls, there is a well-preserved castle and a labyrinth of white houses that enchant those who stroll through them. Among Manueline portals, flowered windows, and small squares, there are several reasons to visit, good examples of religious and civil architecture from the town’s golden times.

The Church of Santa Maria, the Church of Mercy, the Church of São Pedro, the Pillory, and, outside the walls, the Aqueduct and the Sanctuary of Senhor Jesus da Pedra, with a round plan, are some of the monuments that justify a careful visit. As well as the Municipal Museum of Óbidos, where the works of Josefa de Óbidos can be found. In the 17th century, she was a reference painter and a woman with an irreverent artistic attitude in her time. Her paintings reflect learning from great masters of the time, such as the Spaniards Zurbarán and Francisco de Herrera, or the Portuguese André Reinoso and Baltazar Gomes Figueira, her father.

Any time is good to visit Óbidos. For the love stories told there and the medieval atmosphere, it is an inspiring suggestion for a romantic or simply peaceful weekend. And if it includes a night of accommodation in the castle, then the setting will be perfect.

In the local gastronomy, the fish stew from the Óbidos Lagoon stands out, even better if accompanied by wines from the Western Demarcated Region. Another attraction is the famous Ginjinha de Óbidos, which can be enjoyed in various places, preferably in a chocolate cup.

Throughout the year, a program of events brings some animation to this small locality, but undoubtedly the most popular are the International Chocolate Festival, the Medieval Market, and Christmas, when the town is decorated with motifs alluding to the season. Also noteworthy are the Baroque Classical Music, Harpsichord Seasons, and the Opera Festival, which grant a special atmosphere to Óbidos, with open-air performances on warm summer nights.

• Private transportation
• On-board WiFi

• Food and drinks
• Gratuities
• On-board restrooms

Reserve this 2-day package and take advantage of the chance to explore the highlights of Lisbon and Fátima with us. Every tour commences from Lisbon at 09:00 am and concludes at the same starting point, specifically your place of stay in Lisbon. Our vehicles come equipped with air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and bottled water for your comfort. The duration of your visit at each site is guided by your preference and the tour schedule can be expedited in collaboration with the driver. Our private excursions aren’t fixed and can be customized to your desires. Join us in experiencing the wonders of Portugal!

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.