A short train ride out of Lisbon lies the holiday destination for Portuguese royalty of old. From the Moorish castle steeped in layers of history to the more flamboyant palaces, Sintra is a must go when in Lisbon. I was last there in early 2006, before it became a UNESCO site, when there were far fewer visitors, definitely less signs or really any information, and the quality of preservation probably wasn't even on the same scale. Today it still holds the same magical quality from the the fairytale woods and winding forest roads lined with ancient fountains and chapels, but in a more organised manner.
From the train station we wandered the winding streets of Sintra, admiring the charming homes, mosaics and views up to the Moorish castle. Woven across the ridges above Sintra, the castle was built during the Arab occupation in the 8-9th centuries. The castle is little more than walls and walkways that wind through surrounding forests, but what remains is striking.
There are far too many residences in Sintra to see in any detail in a day, but we did find time to visit the wildly extravagant Palacio de Pena. Truly over the top, it is an assault of mosaic, carvings and details that keep your eyes darting to take in all the details. Hopefully next time we will have longer to explore more.
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