Sintra, Portugal

Sintra is a municipality of the Lisbon district (385 606 inhabitants · 319 km²), on the Atlantic coast north-west of Lisbon. The historic town and the palaces on the Sintra hills form the Cultural Landscape of Sintra, inscribed by UNESCO in 1995, and the municipality also covers the beaches and wine villages of the coast and the residential parishes along the railway line to Lisbon.

The history of Sintra has its own page.

Beaches in Sintra

Sintra has seven beaches on the national bathing-water register, on the Atlantic coast between São Julião in the north and Adraga in the south.

Monuments in Sintra

• Pena Palace: King Ferdinand II built the palace from 1838 around a 16th-century monastery, on a peak of the Sintra hills.
• Moorish Castle: a fortification founded in the 10th century under Muslim rule, with walls along the ridge above the town.
• National Palace of Sintra: the royal palace in the town centre, known for the two conical chimneys of its kitchen.
• Quinta da Regaleira: an estate built from 1904 to 1910 for António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro, with a Neo-Manueline palace and the Initiation Well.
• Monserrate Palace: the summer palace of the Cook family, rebuilt from 1863 in a park of plants from every continent.
• Capuchos Convent: a Franciscan convent founded in 1560, with rooms lined in cork.
• Queluz National Palace: an 18th-century royal palace with formal gardens, the official residence of the royal family from 1794 to 1807.

Nature in Sintra

• Sintra-Cascais Natural Park: the protected area covers the Sintra hills and the coast of the municipality, including the Cultural Landscape of Sintra.
• Cabo da Roca: the westernmost point of continental Europe, a cape about 140 metres above the Atlantic with a lighthouse in service since 1772.

Golf in Sintra

Five golf courses are in the municipality of Sintra.

Leisure in Sintra

• Sintra tram: a historic tram runs for about 11 kilometres from Sintra to Praia das Maçãs. Visiting Sintra covers the tram, trains, walking trails and parking.
• Pastries: the travesseiro and the queijada are the pastries of Sintra, sold in the bakeries of the historic centre.
• Colares wine: the Colares wine region, demarcated in 1908, grows Ramisco and Malvasia de Colares vines in sandy soil near the coast.

Parishes of Sintra

• Agualva e Mira Sintra (41 323 inhabitants · 6 km²): a residential parish on the railway line between Sintra and Lisbon.
• Algueirão-Mem Martins (68 649 inhabitants · 16 km²): the most populous parish of the municipality.
• Almargem do Bispo (9 237 inhabitants · 40 km²): a mainly rural parish in the east of the municipality.
• Belas (26 000 inhabitants · 23 km²): home to the Belas Clube de Campo and Lisbon Sports Club golf courses.
• Cacém e São Marcos (39 683 inhabitants · 4 km²): a residential parish on the railway line between Sintra and Lisbon.
• Casal de Cambra (13 347 inhabitants · 2 km²): the smallest parish of the municipality by area.
• Colares (7 746 inhabitants · 33 km²): the coastal parish of Cabo da Roca, Azenhas do Mar, Praia das Maçãs and the Colares wine region.
• Massamá e Monte Abraão (47 804 inhabitants · 3 km²): a residential parish on the railway line between Sintra and Lisbon.
• Montelavar (3 659 inhabitants · 9 km²): a parish in the north-east of the municipality.
• Pêro Pinheiro (4 366 inhabitants · 16 km²): a parish in the north-east of the municipality.
• Queluz (26 000 inhabitants · 4 km²): the parish of Queluz National Palace, in the east of the municipality next to Amadora.
• Rio de Mouro (49 489 inhabitants · 16 km²): home to the Quinta da Beloura golf course.
• São João das Lampas (13 000 inhabitants · 58 km²): a parish in the north-west of the municipality, part of the Colares wine region.
• Terrugem (5 000 inhabitants · 26 km²): a mainly rural parish in the north of the municipality.

Healthcare in Sintra

Guides to Sintra

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Sintra, Portugal

History of Sintra

History of Sintra

Visiting Sintra

Visiting Sintra

Cultural Landscape of Sintra

Cultural Landscape of Sintra

Pena Palace

Pena Palace

Moorish Castle

Moorish Castle

Quinta da Regaleira

Quinta da Regaleira

National Palace of Sintra

National Palace of Sintra

Monserrate Palace

Monserrate Palace

Capuchos Convent

Capuchos Convent

Queluz National Palace

Cabo da Roca

Cabo da Roca