How to Plan a Day Trip to Sentra
- 1). Head to the Castelo dos Mouros, one of the oldest castles in Portugal. As its name suggests, this castle was constructed in the 9th century by the Moors. It was captured in 1147 by Dom Afonso Henriques and subsequently fell into ruin, until Ferdinand II ordered its restoration in the mid 1800s. The sense of history of this castle is awe inspiring, and the panoramic views are magnificent. A must see.
- 2). See the Quinta da Regaleira, the stuff that fairy tales are made of. Cinderella would feel right at home in this gothic style manor home or walking along the magical gardens full of grottoes, lakes and statues. Descend the stone spiral staircase into the initiation well, meant to evoke the ceremonies of the Knights Templar and the Freemasons. The Quinta da Regaleira was built in the early 1900s and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- 3). Plan to visit the Palacio da Pena. Its spectacular architecture makes this one of the most popular sights in Sintra. The palace was built in 1839 on the site of a monastery that had fallen into ruins. Today the palace is considered one of the finest examples of Portuguese architecture of the period.
- 4). See Monserrate, a pretty little palace built in 1858. The palace was constructed in the Romantic architectural style and was inspired by Great Britain's Brighton Pavilion. Be sure to take a turn around the gardens, which boast exotic trees and plants.
- 5). Go to a museum. Sintra has several educational museums where visitors can spend a few hours of the day. There is the Museum of Modern Art, which houses a collection of some of the finest American and European art from the 20th Century. At the Regional Museum you'll find a selection of art and artifacts from the area in and around Sintra. Head to the Archaeological Museum, 11 kilometers away in the village of Odrinhas, where you'll see the ruins of a Roman villa and other ancient artifacts. Families will enjoy the Toy Museum, which includes more than 20,000 toys.
- 6). Go to the beach. Nestled against dramatic cliffs are Sintra's beaches where water sports are available as well as paragliding from the cliffs. Sintra has several beaches to choose from, including Guincho, Magoito, Grande and Adraga.
