The Silver Lining Is Easily Found Here...
Written: Dec 13 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Old buildings include castle and palace and other wonderlands.
Cons: Bus prices are high and so is the amount of miles you must hike.
The Bottom Line: Sintra is a wonderful place with many buildings that bring to light our childhood imagination of castles and palaces and things.
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| rabidbulldog's Full Review: Sintra |
Luckily, I have had the chance to visit Sintra in Portugal several times (4). Three of those times, I visited the Palace and the 4th time I visited the Castle, or rather the many rocks piled on top of one another.
I was not too impressed with the castle except that it has a WONDERFUL view of the surrounding areas in Sintra. It does take you back to the times when the king had it built. It's history is kinda funny because they never fought. Understandably, a fight never happened because of the terrible climb a warrior would have to make before he could even think about attacking. It has a long hike to get to it, so I'd suggest the bus, even though it did cost nearly $5 for the roundtrip ticket on the bus. It's better to save the energy than to save the money. If you have more than 2 and less than 5, I'd just use a taxi. That would probably make it cheaper. I hiked up the road twice and used the bus twice. The walk has just the same feeling of being outdoors in Arkansas on a steep hill. It was wonderful, but tiring. It's only $5 per person to get into the palace and I believe $3.5 for the castle.
When I think of Sintra, it is synonymous with the Palacio de Pena...the palace on top of the hill. The palace is by far the best place I could choose to offer someone to visit if they were to stay only one day in Portugal. The palace is very colorful and wonderful in architectural beauty. They just restored part of it, so it should be up in full running order again. It, the palace, has a wonderful display of ancient...or just old, furniture and rooms. It gives a wonderful eyeful to the tourist seeking to expand his/her imagination of the way in which the royal blue bloods lived their life much time ago. The palace was actually occupied until the mid 1900's if I remember correctly. The tour is more complete if you are able to speak Portuguese and the tour guides are more than welcome to spit out tons of useful and useless information for any question you may have.
Another interesting thing is the kitchen they had for the royals. It was very well equipped in their day with many brass pots and pans. You are able to eat from their restaurant right after the tour, or you may leave the opening gates to eat something at reasonable prices for a tourist attraction.
Unfortunately, I can give no help on ideas on where to stay as I was living there at the time. However, In Lisbon, 45 minutes away by train, you can find many hotels close to Restauradores or Rossio. There are very many bunched together and would be very easy to find.
In Sintra, one may also find an old Mason temple or the equivalent thereof. It is a wonderful place to have a look at their ceremonial services and the way they view things. It includes a river where you "walk on water" as Jesus Christ did. (there are little stones in the water you must walk on...or follow in the steps of one who has gone before :)
There are many tourist shops at the bottom of the hill and I would suggest only buying something to take home after visiting what's on the top of the hill. The Portuguese specialty is the tile...like our bathroom tile. It is called an azulejo. They have many wonderful artists who create them and they sell for reasonable prices, just don't send them through the mail, they can break with the abuse the Post Office there gives them. Also, enjoy the soup in any store. That is a Portuguese specialty meal; they've perfected the soup recipes better than any other nation I know.
If you go during the winter time, it gets VERY chilly on top of the hill, so bring a jacket. Sintra has wonderful places to take pictures...I took 54 the first time I went...so be ready with extra film.
If the palace is your destination, I would suggest renting the golf carts they have available. I have been there without and with them. They make a considerable difference. If you rent it when you buy your ticket, you get a free hour added on. I believe it was $15 for 2 people for one hour. They also can rent it for a half day (you won't need it that much) and a full day. It really helps you see the vast property they have...including the mystical oriental lakes. While at the palace, you may see a statue of a man on a huge boulder in the distance, also on the hill. There are two theories. It is either the architect, looking at his work, or it is a returning soldier, holding up a broken off sword. No one really knows. Fun mysteries!
Sintra is wonderful. To get there, you'd probably be better off using the train system from Lisbon to Sintra. It's the last stop from Cais de Sodre...by the river...close to the airport. While in Portugal, I recommended visiting the palace to everyone who I talked to (who happened to be a tourist :).
Enjoy!
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Couples
Best Time to Travel Here: Sep - Nov
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Epinions.com ID:
rabidbulldog
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Location: Southern Cali
Reviews written: 93
Trusted by: 78 members
About Me:
I work. I get paid. I spend. Others work and complete the cycle.
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