From Cascais and Praia do Guincho we took off to Cabo da Roca, the most westerly point of mainland Europe. Up until the 14th century it was thought to be the very edge of the world.
There is a lighthouse, coffee shop and gift shop but nothing much else. The biggest attraction for me there was the shop where you can buy a post card and stamp it with a special stamp, confirming you have been there. Apparently the gift shop offers a novelty gift, a personalised and hand written certificate confirming your have visited Cabo da Roca, unfortunatelly I have found this just now whilst writing my blog, otherwise I would have bought it. They should advertise it better and then maybe they’ll get a bit more money to develop the place.
It finally was time to visit Sintra. Sintra was the main reason I chose Portugal for this short Easter break. With its glittering palaces and beautiful gardens located high in the mountains, hidden behind exotic trees and flowers, Sintra is like a place from a fairy tale.
Sintra is a must-do trip and if time is not an issue, has enough allure to keep you there for several days. Sintra is known for its many 19th-century Romantic architectural monuments, which has resulted in its classification as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are loads of palaces and gardens there and sadly we could only visit the National Palace of Pena for the short time we had in Sintra. I shall definitely return to Sintra one day to see everything.
The Pena Palace is a romantic castle that was construced after an apparition of Virgin Mary, according to the tradition. It looks almost unreal in its bright red and yellow painted walls and towers.
Go during the week if you can as the crowds are masive and photographing tourists pop up around every corner. There are three not very big car parks close to the palace and I would recommend driving to and parking at one of them. You need to be a pretty skilled driver if you want to drive in Sintra. The roads are extremely narrow with wide and deep ditches and hundreds of cars parked along.
When buying your entrance tickets for Pena Palace don’t pay 3 Euro for a shuttle from the gate to the castle. It is a steepy walk up a hill but it is not very long (about 10 minutes) and the shuttle buses are a mockery, I am talking sardines.
*Travellers tip: don’t forget your legs at home when you visit Sintra and Lisbon, you will need them.
After Pena Palace we headed to the hotel I booked in the centre of Sintra for a batteries charge, food and some rest.
Next time I wouldn’t stay in the town centre as most hotels haven’t got a sufficient car park spaces and if you are renting a car it is very likely you end up with a scratched rear bumper as we did. Also check is your breakfast included in the hotel price.
It is very nice to have a walk around the village of Sintra. Тhe narrow cobblestone streets packed with tiny souvenire shops and restaurants are charming. But if you are a vegetarian you’ll have to satisfy your hunger with Italian dishes and wine. Also, don’t assume that you’ll get a pint of beer when you order A beer.
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