Sintra
Palacio Nacional da Pena
Poetically described by Lord Byron as "this glorious Eden", Sintra is surrounded by greenery and is rich in different species of vegetation. A romantic town with a turn-of-the-century atmosphere, it's luxuriant vegetation hides numerous country houses and chalets which blend perfectly into the landscape.
It was the summer residence of Portuguese kings from the end of the 16th century. It was here that D. Ferdinand de Saxe Coburg built a revivalist palace (The Pena Palace) in the style of one of the castles of his cousin Ludwig II of Bavaria.
Nowadays it is a favourite spot for visitors who like to discover it on foot or in one of the horse-drawn carriages for hire in the main square of the town. The 15th century palace in the village is well worth seeing for the painted ceilings and the Moorish patio. The simplicity of the Capuchos convent in the Sintra hills is well worth the drive out.
Comments
Yes I agree this is glorious Eden and there is so much more to see. Where can you find a dinosaur’s footprint, some of Europe’s oldest grapevines and a deep blowhole that echoes the sound of the Atlantic Ocean in the space of a short walk?. The answers are revealed in a fascinating guide I produced to one of the most beautiful and remarkable areas in Europe.
The beaches of Sintra in Portugal - only a short trip down the coast from Lisbon - have been a popular destination for British tourists since the Christian crusaders first sailed to the region in 1147, yet most visitors remain completely unaware of the easily-accessable delights of the area.
I fell so in love with the area that I moved my family here more than a decade ago and used my local knowledge to produce a unique guidebook to Sintra that could turn even the most run-of-the-mill package holiday into a voyage of discovery.
Look go find, discover Sintra is a personal guide to one of Portugal’s most beautiful, historic and natural places. This is a practical, colourful and easy to follow guide book for visitors wishing to enjoy fully the delights of this special region of Portugal, showing and describing places to visit, stay and eat, and with stimulating walks which will lead you to the hidden treasures of Sintra.
see link
http://lookgofind.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Dewi Jones | February 25, 2007 02:31 PM