Where We Stayed
We stayed at a BnB with Marianna. This little place was a 25 minute drive from Sintra in a town called Almoçageme. We would have stayed in Sintra but at the time the price was so hard to turn away. This small town has many places you can rent and with Praia da Adraga just a short walk away it was a must. Praia da Adraga sits at the bottom of a hill nestled in between high cliffs. On the beach there is a fantastic Restaurant called Restaurante da Adraga.
Our first night there we walked down to the beach and found this lovely seaside eatery. Word has it that this place once served Royalty from Sintra. The women that started grew it from a small stand to the small yet stunning eatery. I ordered the pasta dish and cheesecake, it was perfect. I did see that most of the guests ordered seafood. What I loved the most about this place, aside from the delicious cheesecake was the friendly staff. Just as we were about to leave it began to rain. The waiter was so nice and offered us a lift back to our place.
The next day we went back for more cake and to take him a bottle of maple syrup that I had brought from home. Another great place to eat is Pensão Sisudo, it is on the main street in Almoçageme. Here I had the veggie pattie meal, it was so good, the best I had ever had. I also for the first time tried green Wine. Yes green wine. It is made from junior grapes and is a big selling wine. I actually found it back home and still drink it.
Park and National Palace of Pena
It is a national monument and constitutes one of the major expressions of 19th-century Romanticism in the world. The palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. As I walked up to the castle I was in awe of not only the colors but the brilliance of design. All I was thinking is I could live here. I came here for the lakes but wandered around this fairy tale land for hours. I truly wish I had spent a week just here, and I could have.
Grounds of the great lakes. This part of the castle area is the fairytale I was hoping for. Lush, green and truly astonishing. All that was missing was a Knight on a white horse. I could sit for hours watching the ducks come in and out of there home in the middle of the lake.
Castelo dos Mouros
The Castle of the Moors (Portuguese: Castelo dos Mouros) is a hilltop medieval castle. To me it looked like the great wall of China and it was a must see. The walk up was nerve wrecking. This girl is not a fan of heights, especially when they are old heights. It was worth the anxiety and the painful legs. You can see everything, which I am sure is why it was built. A lot of the structure was damaged in the big earthquake in 1755.
Quinta da Regaleira
Another place of romance and fairytales. Quinta da Regaleira is a luxurious park that features lakes, grottos, wells, benches, fountains, and a vast array of exquisite buildings. I made my way around the beautifully landscaped grounds of floral I have never heard of or seen. I was lost, really lost. There are caves and underground tunnels everywhere you turn. It was a good thing I was not alone or I would be curled up in a corner. As the other 2 places I spoke about this is a very touristy place. We lucked out with the bad weather and found ourselves being only a few in the park. This is another place that I could have spent hours wondering around. I am sure I missed over a dozen secret rooms and caverns.
Things to Consider
You can find deals to get into all three places. I would suggest giving yourself at least a full day for each place. You could easily spend a week visiting all that is in Sintra. I know that I will have to come back here. If you are a photographer this is your place. I only had 4 days here and it was not enough. You can also get to Sintra by bus from Lisbon if you are not driving. It is a tourist area and the prices show for it. Driving around Sintra is a little difficult if you have a large car. I had an SUV and consider myself a good driver and I struggled with the tight turns and winding roads.
