Sintra, Portugal

Sintra is mainly known for its 19th-century romantic palaces and social life, immortalised by writers and poets, such as Eça de Queiroz and Lord Byron, in their works. However, Sintra is known to have been inhabited since Neolithic times, Castle of the Moors being one of the places where remnants of this period were found. 
It was called the Hill of the Moon by its Celtic settlers and "Mons Lunae" by the Romans, perfectly describing the mysticism and mystery of the place. Albeit the signs of Roman presence, it wasn't until the Moorish occupation- when Sintra was known as Xintara- that the first documented references were made. The castle, built during this period, was abandoned by the Moorish forces when Lisbon castle was conquered, in 1147.
From the 14th century on Sintra gained its reputation as the summer residence of the royals, with the reconstruction and enlargement of the Palace of Sintra (or Town Palace). It eventually lost importance as a summer destination in the 17th and 18th century, being replaced by Mafra and the Royal Palace of Queluz.
In the late 18th and 19th centuries, foreign travellers and Portuguese aristocrats rediscovered the magic and mystery of Sintra, fueled by its exotic landscape and climate, reestablishing its importance as a summer resort. It was doing this period that most of the exquisite, out of a fairy tale, palaces were built and luxurious gardens were landscaped, outstandingly the Palace and Park of Pena, by order of king consort D. Fernando II.

 How to go, from Lisbon:

You can go from Lisbon to Sintra, for a day trip, by train, departing either from Restauradores or Oriente Stations. At the vending machines buy the "Cartão Lisboa Viva" and charge it with €5, which is enough for the round trip. 
Keep in mind that one day is not enough to see all the main sights, especially if you're going to walk from palace to palace through the magnificent parks, which I strongly advise.

What to visit in Sintra:

 Quinta da Regaleira

 Palace of Pena

 Castle of the Moors

 National Palace and Gardens of Queluz (by train)

 Park and Palace of Monserrate







Local: Sintra, Portugal

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