Fantastic Eco Tour through the Wonders of Sintra

The Palácio Nacional de Queluz it's a palace of the XVIII

century. It is one of the last large buildings in Rococo style

erected in Europe, also marked by Baroque and Neoclassicism. The construction of the Palace began in 1747, with the architect Mateus Vicente de Oliveira. The palace was built as a summer retreat for D. Pedro de Bragança and Queen D. Maria I of Portugal. It served as a discreet place of incarceration for the Queen while her madness grew worse. In 1908 it became the property of the State and after a serious fire in 1934 the Palace was extensively restored. One of the wings of the Queluz Palace, the Pavilhão de Dona Maria, built between 1785 and 1792, is today an exclusive guest room fo foreign heads of state visiting Portugal.

The Palacio Nacional da Pena represents one of the main expressions of XIX century architectural Romanticism in the world. It was classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995 and on July 7, 2007 elected as one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. Its construction was during the reign of Joao II of Portugal. In the XVI century, Manuel I of Portugal ordered its reconstruction from scratch, but in the XVIII century a lightning strike destroyed the palace, damage that was aggravated by the earthquake of 1755. King-consort Fernando II of Portugal in 1838 decided to acquire the convent with the intention of making the building his future summer residence. After his death, the Palace became Portuguese national heritage, integrating the Crown's heritage. With the establishment of the Portuguese Republic, the palace was converted into a museum.

The Chalet it was built between 1864 and 1869 by King Fernando II and his second wife, Elise, Countess of Edla. It was conceived as a leisure retreat and built on the model of Alpine Chalets. The relationship between Fernando and Elise is considered one of the great love stories in Portuguese history as it caused a scandal because they wanted to get married, although she had a daughter with an unknown father, but in 1869 they managed to get married. After the fall of the Portuguese monarchy (1910), the Chalet was abandoned and in 1999 there was a fire that destroyed much of the interior of the chalet.

The Castelo dos Mouros is a medieval castle, built by the Moors in the VIII and IX centuries, during the period of the Muslim Iberian Peninsula, as a central place of an agricultural territory and necessary to protect its population. It was an important strategic point during the Reconquista, having been taken by Christian forces after the fall of Lisbon in 1147. It is classified as a National Monument, integrating the Cultural Landscape of Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Palacio Nacional de Sintra it was one of the Royal Palaces and is now owned by the Portuguese State. The original palace was donated by King Joao I of Portugal to the Count of Seia in 1383, returning to royal possession shortly thereafter. Its construction began in the XV century, from an old building from the Muslim era. The palace represents features of medieval, Gothic, Manueline, Renaissance and Romantic architecture. It was used by the Portuguese Royal Family practically until the end of the Monarchy, in 1910 and it was here that D. Manuel received the news of the discovery of Brazil, where D. Afonso V was born and died, where D. Afonso VI was imprisoned and where D. Joao II was made King.

The Palacio da Regaleira it is the main building and the most common name in Quinta da Regaleira. Its first owner was Ant6nio Augusto, who was distinguished by King Dom Carlos I on August 16, 1904 as Baron de Almeida. Aunt6nio Augusto models the space in mixed layouts, which evoke Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Manueline architecture. The farm forms an integral part of Sintra's cultural landscape, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.

The Palácio de Monserrate is a palatial village, the traditional summer resort of the Portuguese court. Dom Afonso Henriques built two chapels dedicated to the Virgin Mary and Our Lady of Monserrate. In the XVII century, possession of the property was taken by the Mello e Castro

family, but after the 1755 earthquake, the farm became uninhabitable. An English merchant

named Gerard de Visme rented the property in 1789 and built a neo-Gothic house on the ruins of the chapel. In 1793-1794 the property was rented by William Thomas Beckford, who began designing a garden. Although the property was still in ruins when Lord Byron visited it in 1809, its magnificent appearance inspired the poet, who mentioned the beauty of Monserrate in Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, which drew the attention of tourists. Francis Cook purchased the property in 1863 and began restoring the ruins of the house built by Gerard. The palace became the Cook family's summer residence.

The Cabo da Roca it is the westernmost point of mainland Portugal and continental Europe.

The site is visitable, not to the extreme but to an area at an altitude of 140 m. The cape forms the western end of the Serra de Sintra, swooping into the Atlantic Ocean. In the area there is a lighthouse (Farol do Cabo da Roca) and a tourist shop.

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Guincho Beach is a paradise for nature and water sports lovers. With its impressive dunes and strong waves, it is one of the best destinations in Portugal for surfing and kitesurfing. The wild and untouched scenery makes this beach perfect for those looking for a fantastic lunch.

The town of Cascais enchants with its sophisticated charm and welcoming atmosphere. A former fishing village, Cascais has become an elegant tourist destination, full of picturesque streets, seaside restaurants and beautiful beaches. Its historic centre, with the famous Citadel and the Town Market, invites you to take a relaxing stroll, while the marina and seafront promenade offer unforgettable views of the ocean.