Sintra, Cabo da Roca, Cascais...

Some more illustrations from our family holidays (see previous posts about Bilbao, Salamanca, Lisbon).

In a very decent distance from Lisbon there are a number of places that you just must visit. We made only a few of them, as the major purpose with the holidays was to rest and enjoy the house and the swimming-pool that we had rented.

These are the places we concentrated on during a day trip.

SINTRA

Sintra, situated high up on hills, offers a comparatively cool climate and was during centuries a summer resort for Portuguese Royalty. The place is UNESCO World Heritage Site, basically due to its romantic architecture. Lord Byron said: “I must just observe that the village of Cintra in the Estremadura is the most beautiful in the world.”

There is an old castle built by the Moors, “Castelo dos Muoros” with origins from the 8th and 9th century on the very top of the hill (on one of the photos), also the Pena Palace (“Palcio Nacional da Pena”), “Palcio da Regaleira”, “Palaco de Montserrate”, “Seteais Palce”… – which we did not visit) and in the very town centre, the “Palacio Nacional de Sintra” , which we visited. This was the summer residence of the Portuguese Royalty, with the major parts dating from the 15th and 16th century. It’s today a museum and the pictures below are from the town and this palace.

The landscape around is beautiful, “Serra de Sintra”.

CABO DA ROCA

We took the road to “Cabo da Roca”

"Cabo da Roca" is the westernmost point of continental Europe. The impressive lighthouse was completed in 1772.

CASCAIS

Following the coastline back to Lisbon on the beautiful Estoril Coast, you pass by Cascais. Originally a fishing village, Cascais became fashionable when the Portuguese Royal family started to come here during the end of the 19th century. Portugal being neutral during WW II, the place became the home of several royal families – Spain, Italy, Hungary, and Bulgaria.

The other family members stayed around and looked better at the place, but I left earlier for a wonderful dinner with Mr and Mrs. Blogtrotter in Lisbon, so I have only a few photos.

I wish you a nice weekend!