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ROMANTIC PORTUGAL
Cascais BayPortugal is in the headlines after its team’s victory at the Euro 2016 soccer championships, but the country itself contains far greater depth as a travel destination, with many surprises and various places to see
Cascais Bay
Portugal is in the headlines after its team’s victory at the Euro 2016 soccer championships, but the country itself contains far greater depth as a travel destination, with many surprises and various places to see.
Portugal may seem like any other country in Europe, with its streets resembling the Champs-Élysées, its legacy of antique buildings, its museums and much more.
Only two-and-a-half hours from London by air, or a nine-and-a-half hours’ train ride from Madrid, Portugal provides a welcome climatic contrast to many European countries’ winter.
When reaching Lisbon, the capital city, you can take a day as a warm-up with a dinner in the old town. The next day, take a day trip to Sintra, a town sure to add sparkle to your Portugal visit.
On the way to Sintra, there are many tourist spots on the outskirts of Lisbon, allowing you to kill two birds with one stone.
A car or a bus, with a guide, is advisable to reach Sintra, so stops can be made on the way.
Sintra is known for its 19th century architectural monuments, including the famous Castelo da Pena.
Harking back to Portugal’s Romantic Period, the castle stands out captivatingly in the rocky hills of Serra de Sintra.
The palace was built by King Ferdinand II, a lover of arts and literature. He had the palace specifically built to look like a scene from an opera, explaining the multicolored façade of the castle.
Another famous place in Sintra is the Palacio Nacional de Sintra, dating to the 14th century. The palace has various salas or halls that are breathtakingly and beautifully decorated.
You can also try visiting the Cabo Da Roca, situated on a cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
A monument stands tall there, with an inscription describing Cabo Da Roca as one of Europe’s westernmost points.
Another interesting place to go to is the Belem district, which has three or four must-visit sites.
One of them is the Torre de Belem or Belem Tower on the banks of the River Tagus.
Classified by UNESCO as part of the cultural heritage of humanity, the tower is the most iconic symbol of Portugal. The four-story limestone building was built as a fortress for protection by King Manuel I.
A few steps away from the Belem Tower will take you to the Monument to the Discoveries. Here, 33 important historical personalities are immortalized in statues, inside a sail ship. It was designed by a group of artists and architects, including Portuguese architect José Ângelo Cottinelli Telmo and sculptor Leopoldo de Almeida.
The monument has an elevator that takes visitors to a hall with exhibits and films about Portugal.
On the pavement, a caricature of the 15th and 16th century maps featuring mermaids and galleons that portrayed exploration routes can be viewed.
The Monument to the Discoveries is probably the greatest symbol of Portugal’s romantic idealism.
If you want to get a feel of Sintra’s city side, visit the city center; it turns out the city boasts many churches, museums, mountains and other tourist attractions.
There’s no end to Sintra’s delights, just more and more captivating and colorful places to explore.
— Photo by Aruna Harjani
