This day starts with a transfer to the starting point - Sintra centre.
LEVEL: MEDIUM DISTANCE: 6 KM APPROXIMATE DURATION: 4 HOURS (including the visit to the garden) CLIMB: 350 M DESCENT: 350 M
After a short transfer we arrive at the heart of the village, home of the National Palace of Sintra. It is now time to visit one of the many famed coffee shops of Sintra - Piriquita - to savour a coffee and a regional cake, while watching the palace skyline. The National Palace of Sintra, featuring its two unique chimneys, is located at the urban centre of Sintra. It is the most important building constructed for the Royal Court in Portugal, and dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries.
Then we head towards the romantic Hotel Lawrence - the oldest hotel in the Iberian Peninsula and mentioned in the novel "Os Maias", of the famous Portuguese writer Eça de Queirós. Many known people slept in this hotel, including Lord Byron, who made it internationally famous.
Continuing along the beautiful and characteristic streets of Sintra, we arrive at Quinta da Regaleira*. Quinta da Regaleira is a singular palace with intricate carvings in wood and stone that tells us about Portugal and the mythological tradition of the Portuguese people. It was acquired at the end of the 19th century by the millionaire António Carvalho Monteiro, who brought from Italy the architect Luigi Manini. Most of its beauty comes from the fact that it was constructed on the ruins of a medieval convent, and that it displays a mixture of three styles - gothic, manueline and renaissance.
*If you want to make this a whole day trip, we advise you to visit the Quinta! Adult ticket - 10€.
Further on we will find the Quinta de Seteais*. This neo-classic “quinta” was built in 1760 for the Dutch consulate and trader, Daniel Giedmeester. Legend says that when the bill was presented to the owner, he heaved seven (sete) sighs (ais) and so, inadvertently, gave the quinta his name. Today it functions as a luxury hotel with interior frescoes in the salons, painted in the graceful style of Jean Pillement.
*The visit of the gardens is free, so go ahead and enjoy the view!
Afterwards, we turn left into a narrow road, all surrounded by luxuriant vegetation, leading to the magic Pena Palace*, implanted in a rocky formation with its stunning gardens that are the exponent of romanticism of the 19th century, having more than five hundred species of trees from all over the world.
*The visit of the Gardens is included in this tour. If you have time, besides the Gardens, visit the Palace (ticket sold separately).
Once the visit to the Palace finishes, we will start our descent back to the historical center, passing by Vila Sassetti, acquired in 1885 by Victor Carlos Sassetti on the slope of Mouros Castle, designed by the architect Luigi Manini who later became the architect of Quinta da Regaleira. On this track from the Gardens back to Sintra, make sure you look up to spot the castle!
At the end of the day the participants will get the transfer back to Cascais.
The program ends here, but if you want to keep traveling with us we offer an extra night in Cascais for 120€.
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