Scintillating Sintra

A half an hour away from Lisbon by train is Sintra. Sintra is a small town dotted with 19th century Romantic architecture, parks, palaces, castles and woodland and has become a tourist day trip mecca.

The Pena National Palace was the home of the Portugese Royal Family in the 18th and 19th century and did not disappoint.

 

A fanciful collection of turrets and towers, one expected Rapunzel to drop her braid over the stone wall any minute.

Another photographer’s paradise!

We spent several hours at the Palace and then another one enjoying the gardens associated with it.

Queen someone’s fern gully even had Australian tree ferns and there were dwarf red kangaroo paws planted at the palace.

 

 

It was really very impressive though and we could have used another day here easily, there were several other palaces and gardens that we didn’t get to.

 

We did however, make it to the Moorish castle. It was blowing a gale and Sam insisted on walking the perimeter ramparts. I was sure I would get blown off in places and how Russell’s hat survived I will never know!

Spectacular views though.

We made it back down the hill to Sintra village and the train station and by dinner time were back in Lisbon to sample yet more local delicacies.

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