Sintra - Lisbon - Portugal

 Today we are in Portugal, it is Sunday and everywhere is extremely busy. There are two large cruise ships in port, so there are many tourists and I think because of the beautiful weather everyone in Lisbon have also decided to have a family day out. Portugal is a very large city and it is spread out for many kilometres along the Tagus River. Lisbon is a city full of history and it is hundreds of years older than London, Paris or Rome. It is said to date back to 1200BC

The Roster is the National Emblem of Portugal.

We have an organised tour today with a local tour group and we are going to see many of the wonderful sites of Lisbon, the beautiful white sandy beaches of Estoril and some of the more rugged coastline but we are also being taken up into the hills to the small country village resort of Sintra which is World Heritage Listed. Sintra has dense, subtropical vegetarian and has been a town where the Portuguese have retreated to get away from the summer heat. There are many palaces and grand residents in this area many dating back centuries.

 

The road up to Sintra is very narrow and winding and when we meet a bus coming the other way someone has concede and reverse back – the road is just not made for two cars/buses to pass. It is quite a hairy ride but when we finally get there it is just picture perfect place. It is extremely busy – lots of people, cars, buses and the occasional horse drawn carriage. There are eateries, bars and quaint little shops dotted along the steep and narrow streets and all are full of people having a fun time.

The City Square and Entrance To The Palace.

 

As well as coming to see this beautiful village we are here to see the 15^th century Royal Palace. You enter the palace from the main town square and what we see when we are inside is a real treat. This building is truly magnificent. It is a mixture of all the architecture styles from the countries Portugal colonised over many centuries. There are decorative tiles on every wall in every room and the ceilings in all of the rooms are also extensively decorated in painted pictures. The furniture is very dark brown rose wood and the paintings are also very dark and somewhat sombre both in colour and mood. The largest room has massive dark wood tables and chairs, lovely windows that frame beautiful views of the country side and the walls are completely covered in white tiles with intricate dark blue paintings all over them. The ceiling is also extensively decorated with painted pictures. I have never seen anything quite as beautiful as this serene and gorgeously decorated room.

 

Views From The Inside Of The Palace

 

All the rooms in this Palace are beautifully presented and furnished. Even the kitchens and food preparation areas are different from anything I have seen before. It was an absolute delight to visit this wonderful residence and I hope my photos convey the beauty of this residence.

We then return to Lisbon and on the way back to the ship we stop at the Belem Tower, Jeronimos Monastery and the Lisbon Cathedral and the Discovery Monument. All are magnificent and well worth visiting. But the very large white limestone Discovery Monument in the shape of a Portuguese Caravel with many of the famous Portuguese Explorers standing around the base is truly a grand and magnificent site.

 Belem Tower In Lisbon

 The Discovery Monument.

 

Once again we have had a great day and just loved and enjoyed everything that we have seen in Portugal.