Day Trip to Sintra, Portugal

Sintra is the perfect day trip for those staying in Lisbon, Portugal. It is only a 45 minute train ride that costs 4.50 euro round trip! They drop you off right by the bus stop thats stops at all the tourist locations! We were able to see Pena National Palace (one of the most beautiful palaces I have ever seen), the moorish castle, the palace of Sintra, and Sintra's amazing coastline. The Pena National Palace took most of the day because it stands on the highest hill overlooking all of Sintra and you never want to leave! Built by King Ferdinand II the palace would serve as a summer home for the royal family until his death when it was passed into the possession of his second wife. Although no pictures were allowed to be taken inside of the palace it ceilings and walls were some of the most exquisite architecture and painting I have ever seen!

The ceilings inside of the palace were so delicately sculpted and designed. The detail of the palace on the outside is almost as detailed as the walls and ceilings on the inside. Although Sintra was an overall amazing day I regret wearing leather boots in a completely hiking area. My friends and I did not realize how much we would be walking not only up hills, stairs, and dirt but on cobble stones and unpaved streets! My black leather boots are not necessarily the type of shoes you want to be wearing during these excursions. Note to self for our next trip!

The next site we were able to see was only a short walk down the hill from the National Palace and it reminded me of the great wall! It was probably close to as much walking as the great wall would be thats for sure! It was called the Castle of the Moors built by the Moors in the early 9th or 10th century! The castle was built as a wall for protection of the National Palace. It is easy to see that the walls of the castle provide complete protection and control over the surrounding areas.

Imagine walking all of this in black leather boots! Doesn't it really resemble the great wall?

Before entering the Castle of the Moors!

Our group on top of the castle!

Inside the castle!

After a long day of walking and hiking in uncomfortable shoes our last stop was the National Palace of Sintra. This palace is the best preserved medieval palace in Portugal. It has been inhabited continuously from the 15th century up until the 19th century.