Sintra Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Sintra

Traces of humanity in Sintra date back to Paleolithic times. At an open air site near the church of Sao Pedro de Canaferrim and the Moorish Castle there were found ceramics from 5,000 BC. The name Sintra is indo-European. It means "bright star" or "sun." Romans called the place "sacred mountain." Ptolemy called it "mountains of the moon."

In 1147 the Moorish Castle (Castelo dos Mouros) surrendered to Afonso Henriques. Afonso commenced building Christian churches. The church of Saint Peter of Canaferrim was established within the walls of the Castle. Throughout the 12th and 13th centuries convents, monasteries, and the military built residences, estates and mills.

In 1287 King Dinis ceded the town to Queen Elizabeth of Portugal. The town remained a possession of the Queen of Portugal until 1383. King Edward described the region in 1435 as "A land of good air and water." Sintra has been the refuge of kings and nobility for centuries. It is replete with locations that are enigmatic and magical.

The Pena Palace is for fans of Romantic architecture and sprawling exotic gardens. The Regaleira Palace sits amid an enchanted wood and gardens filled with statues of mythological heroes and ceremonial wells for obscure rites. Wells with stairs but no water.

The Tivoli Palace Seteais is a five-star hotel in a former palace on a hill with gardens and fruit trees. The Sintra National Palace is genuinely medieval, unaltered for 900 years with enormous twin chimneys. The Moorish Castle sits above the National Palace with breathtaking views.

Sintra is the Riviera of Portugal. A haven for kings, saints and travelers. Famous for its palaces, castles, churches, gardens, beaches and parks. It has been called the best place to live in Portugal and has been classified a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Why did Europeans and Moors fought so hard for this pleasant piece of land? Come and see.