Date of Events: April 15, 2019
First I need to explain the cheapest and best way to get to Sintra from Rosio Square.
First you go to the train station, not the Metro (located in upper corner of Rosio Square). I suggest catch 8am train to beat a great deal of tourists.
You pay 5 Euro for train to Sintra which includes return ticket.
45 minutes later you arrive in Sintra. When to exit the station go right and head directly to the busses ... do not go to information as line up is long. You pay 5 to 15 Euro for hop on hop off bus depending on your plan for the day. Make sure you go to the site you would really like to see first to avoid a lot of tourists.
My first stop is the Moorish Castle.
This Military fort was built around the 10th Century by the Muslim population that occupied the Iberian Peninsula.
The holes in the ground were silos built for storing grains and food.
The Muslim occupants of the castle were identified from the foundations and silos found.
A ton was erected by a Church because of damage done by a grave site.
Remains of neolithic 5000BC have been identified on site.
Wall of the Moorish Castle.
The remnants of the castle.
Stone Cutting - After cuts in the stone, wood wedges were placed in the marks and soaked in water. The wood would swell and split the rock.
Guard house.
This is not even busy season ... it is noon and it is bumper to bumper.
Old water fountain.
Because of the time, I bypassed Peña Palace and made my way to Quinta da Regaleira because I really wanted to see the Initiation Well.
After getting off at the Sintra Historic Centre, it was about an 8 minute walk to Quinta da Regaleira. It is not well marked, but after asking a few people I got pointed in the right direction.
Once you see this castle you know you are in the right spot.
Quinta da Regaleira is classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. It was built at the end of the 19th Century.
The Upper entrance was where you had to buy your ticket. Oh, I failed to mention that each spot you visit costs about 8 Euro. There was quite a long line to get in here, but it moved fast.
The Initiation Well ... there was a large line up to go in to see this. Wow! It was worth it.
I visited the Lago da Cascata ...
... the portal do Guardiaes ...
... the Patamar do Tenis along with other interesting sites in the gardens.
My final stop was to visit the palace. What carving on the ceiling.
The view from the Palace balcony.
Front view of the Palace.
Walking back into Sintra I made a quick stop in a Church courtyard before catching the train back to Lisbon.
As soon as I returned to Lisbon, Rosio Square, I walked over to the next square, Praça da Figueira. I caught number 15 tram to Mosteiro do Jeronimos.
Wow! What a huge building!
This is the main entrance to the Church but is not open. You have to go to the middle of the building and there is an entrance open to the Church.
This Church and monastery embody the spirit of the age. It features some of the finest Manueline architecture found anywhere in Portugal.
The church houses the tomb Vasco da Gama (discovered searoute to India in 1498) along with other important figureheads.
I absolutely loved this monument ... Miradouro do Padrao dos Descobrimentos.
And finally, to Belem Tower. This is also A World Heritage site by UNESCO. The tower was built in the early 16th Century.
Belem Tower.
I was walking back part way as I saw a few places I wanted to take a few pics. I saw this restaurant ... the beer was very cheap.
Took the tram out to Belem Tower, but took a bus back into Lisbon.
Oh what a great day!