So, a day trip out of town to Sintra, some 40 mins away by train. Simple case of catching the train from Rossio station around the corner from where we are staying. Easy Peasy!
We have now been travelling 2 weeks. Every day it has been sunny with daily high temperatures of between 20 to 28 degrees. Just perfect. Can’t believe our luck. It had to end and arriving in Sintra today I needed a jumper (sweater) for the first time.
Sintra is at an altitude of 500m and has a very temperate climate compared to Lisbon. It is set on craggy rocky outcrops with lush greenery all around. It was the favourite summer destination for kings and queens and the landed gentry of the day.
The most impressive palace in the region is of course the Palace of Pena. Caught the bus up to it and walked up the steep palace garden trails to the castle to be greeted by quite thick fog. Didn’t see that coming!
Peña palace was once a monastery, but King Ferdinand II liked it so much he “acquired” it and starting in 1838 he set about modifying it into a grand palace. He styled it to replicate castles in Germany of the time with what I like to call that crazy eclectic look. Immediately I saw it I thought of the Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, the one that the Disney castle is modelled on. We visited that quite a few years ago with our good friends Horst and Elfi.
The fog did eventually lift, and I got a better picture.
The castle remained in the royal family right until the end. I read how in 1908 the king and his eldest son (the heir to the throne) were assassinated. The second son took over and became Manuel II. He only lasted 2 years, saw the writing on the wall and went into exile in 1910. From that date Portugal become a republic and that was the end of the royal family.
Next, I caught the bus to another Palace in the region that I heard about and looked very interesting. By this stage of the day Sintra was getting very busy and riding the public bus was almost becoming a full body contact sport. Hate to be here in the peak season!
The place I went to was called Quinta da Regaleira. It’s set in the lushest of gardens.
Story is that it was owned and built by a very wealthy chap that was really keen on creating over the top “folly” like structures harmoniously set within a natural setting. I really enjoyed it.
There was a deep well that could be descended deep into the ground. It led to underground caverns and popped out elsewhere in the gardens like a secret passage.
Interesting structures to climb…..
and lots and lots of windy pathways and steps that cut in and out of the lush gardens.
If you are ever in Portugal in the heat of summer this is definitely the place to visit.
Steps 6,259 – Di is slowly on the move again!!
Rowkin Rovings Blog 