Hello everyone. On the third day of our trip to Portugal, we visited the town of Sintra... Sintra is loved by both locals and tourists because its climate is slightly different from that of Lisbon. If it's hot and humid in Lisbon, Sintra is always a few degrees cooler. That’s why, in the past the Portuguese royal family chose this area as their summer residence and built many royal palaces in Sintra. Plus, there’s an amazing fresh air here to breathe in.
Hans Christian Andersen also loved Sintra because the climate suited him well and he frequently visited the town.
One thing you should be mindful of while walking around the town is that you won’t find drinkable water everywhere. However, there are specific fountains with clean, drinkable water. For instance, near Anderson’s house there’s a fountain where you can get water and many people refill their bottles there.
One of the touristic spots in the city is Lord Byron Café. It’s quite popular and has an interesting feature: they serve their liqueurs in chocolate cups. After drinking the liqueur, you can eat the cup. I drank the liqueur and my friend ate the chocolate cups.
If you visit Sintra even in summer, I recommend bringing a raincoat or warm clothing. The weather here can change very quickly, so it’s a good idea to walk around with a light jacket. Also there are a lot of tourists here. Even outside the official tourism season, it can still get crowded. If you’re traveling with children, hold their hands and keep an eye on your bags.
As you stroll through the old town of Sintra, the narrow streets and historical atmosphere will enchant you. There are lots of hills and ups and downs in the city center, so I suggest wearing comfortable shoes. High heels are definitely not suitable.
Another touristic spot is the sardine stores. Sardines are considered a national symbol of Portugal and in these stores found all over the country, you can find canned sardines labeled with your birth year. They start from 1917 onward and each can features important information about that year, such as famous people born that year or inventions made. This makes them a perfect souvenir for your friends. And if you buy at least four cans, they give you a special gift package.
Another place you must try in Sintra is an old café. This is one of the oldest cafés in the town and is especially famous for its Travesseiros dessert. These sweets resemble small pillows, made from baked dough filled with almond cream. They were first made in the 1940's and even today, the recipe remains unchanged. The dessert is extremely sweet, but you absolutely have to try it.
Later we visited the Sintra National Palace. This palace was used by Portuguese monarchs during the summer months starting from the 15th century. The twin chimney towers of the palace are easily recognizable in the Sintra landscape. In fact these chimneys were originally part of the old kitchens where smoke escaped. Although the history of the palace dates back to the Moorish period, most of what we see today is from the 15th century.
While touring the palace, you can clearly see Gothic, Manueline and Moorish influences in the architecture. The structure was damaged during the great earthquake of 1755 but was later restored to its original form and is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
As our day in Sintra came to an end, we returned to our accommodation for dinner. We enjoyed a delicious meal featuring cake and an incredible octopus dish. We ate happily and relaxed by the seaside.
A final note about this trip: Sintra is a place that will appeal to everyone. However, since the weather conditions can be variable, come prepared and get used to the crowds. If you ever visit Portugal, Sintra is definitely a must-see destination.