The Town Of Sintra Portugal - By: Laurie Marks

Sintra Portugal, situated immediately north of Lisbon is the previous refuge for Portuguese Royalty. Celebrated for its fairy-tail like attributes, Sintra is a town infused in imagination and legend, nestled in a land that would fit well into a children's fairy-tale.

Sintra is an UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a must see for anybody who is earnest to experiencing and seeing the unexpected. People who have visited Sintra regularly describe as a astonishing location where fantasy and reality have been carefully entwined. Sintra gets its marvelous quality due to the extremely great amount of Castles and Palaces which have been built there over thousands of years. Even the Sintra's Town Hall, The Câmara Municipal, that you can see on the picture above, is an amazingly exquisite structure.

Similar to many places in Portugal, Sintra has a very extended history, spanning thousands of years. Sintra's long history may be traced back to the early Neolithic age, and archaeological proof indicates a long succession of human settlements spanning through Bronze and Iron ages.

Throughout Roman occupation of Lisbon, Sintra was division of the Roman Administration town of Olisipo (Modern Lisbon). But it wasn't until the 11th century, in the course of Moorish occupation of Iberia that reference is made to Sintra. At that time it was included as a dependent territory of Lisbon. Approximately seven years subsequent to the Christian King Afonso Henriques reconquest of Lisbon in 1147, Sintra was awarded charter as a commune. It was during the Christian Reconquest that Sintra's iconic Moorish Castle was partly destroyed.

Sintra was governed by the Knights Templars until the order was abolished. Soon after that, the Portuguese Crown renamed the Knights Templar the Order of Christ. Although there were structures constructed by the Portuguese Crown well into the 15th century, it wasn't until the commencement of the Portuguese Global Empire that Sintra bloomed. It was King Manuel I who created the permanent association between Sintra and the Crown by enlarging the existing Royal Palace and the building of the Nossa Senhora da Penha Monestary. It was from the Nossa Senhora da Penha Monestary that King Manuel I watched Vasco da Gama's iconic return voyage of discovery.

Today, Sintra is a place bursting of mystery and grandeur that was formed by successive peoples who dwelt there. With the help of the Portuguese Crown, it is genuinely one of the most interesting places on earth, and unique in every way. A trip to Sintra is a necessity and must not be missed on your next Portugal Holiday.

The Following are some of the charming places awaiting your stopover in Sintra:

The Royal Palace: Constructed in the 15th and 16th century the Royal Palace is located in the Centre of Sintra. With its two gigantic chimney, the Royal Palace is as picturesque as it is imposing. The Palace has incorporated, greatly, the use of azulejos, Portuguese tiles designed as ornamentation of walls.

The Pena Palace: Planned by Portuguese engineer Possiddnio da Silva, the Pena Palace is a masterpiece of absolute Romanticism. The prototype Of European Romanticism, the Pena Palace was commissioned by King Ferdinand II, and built over the ruins of a medieval monastery which had been abandoned after the 1755 earthquake. Extensive use of Egyptian, Moorish, Gothic, and Renaissance elements gives the Pena Palace an everlasting and magical feeling.

The Palace of Montserrate: Planned by renowned British architect, James
Knowles Junior for Sir Francis Cook, The Palace of Montserrate is an example of mid-19th century eclecticism. fusing Neo Gothicism and elements derivative from India, Montserrate is as intriguing as it is picturesque.

The Moorish Castle: Sitting high on a mountain it is said that the Moorish Castle is not Moorish but of Visigothic in origin. Since It was in use by the Moors at the time of the Christian Reconquest it became identified as the Moorish Castle. Although the castle is partly in ruins, due to its sacking by Dom Afonso Henriques Crusade in Iberia, it is well preserved and worth a visit owing to its extraordinary history and panoramic views.

The Quinta da Regaleira: Built between 1904 - 1910 the Quinta da Regaleira is inspired by spirituality, infused with symbols of alchemy, Masonry, the Knights Templar and the Rosicrucians. The property where the Regaleira sits was initially owned by the Barons of Regaleira, a affluent merchant family from Porto. It wasn't until the property was purchased by wealthy entrepreneur Carvalho Monteiro that construction of the Regaleira commenced. The Quinta should not be missed on your Portugal travel.

These are only a sampling of the countless amazing places to visit in Sintra. There are numerous gardens with vegetation imported from all over of the world. Sintra is more than just a town, it has an power that makes it one of the greatest places on this planet to see.

A brief description of one of the world's most enchanting towns, Sintra Portugal.

Information about Sintra Portugal one of the world's most enchanting towns, filled with history, and archetecture that will take your breat away. Don't forget to visit the numerous palaces sintra portugal