Sintra

When I landed in Lisbon it seemed everyone wanted me to take a day trip to Sintra. It’s a municipality to the west of Lisbon filled with historic palaces and castles. You can’t visit all in day - so I picked what seemed the two most interesting to me - Pena Palace and the Castle of the Moors.

At Sintra it seemed everyone wanted you to take the bus or taxi to get to Pena. After queueing for 20 minutes with no movement I asked about walking there. I got many not s positive answers ― “a two hour hard hike”. Nonsense! It’s a beautiful 1hr easy hike. Absolutely recommended to walk to Pena.

Looking up at an ornate street lamp amongst some tall trees on a sunny day. — Pena Palace ― 2019/05/03
1/1000s at f/1.8, 24mm, ISO 200, Fuji X-T20

Pena Palace

Permalink to “Pena Palace”

Looking through a circular arch between two pillars to some trees beyond. — Pena Palace ― 2019/05/03
1/1800s at f/2, 53mm, ISO 200, Fuji X-T20

A view of two buildings in the Pena palace. the near building is covered in deep blue tiles with light stone trim. The far building is cylindrical and yellow. — Pena Palace ― 2019/05/03
1/2500s at f/3.2, 53mm, ISO 200, Fuji X-T20

A view of the open-air courtyard in the centre of Pena Palace. The courtyard has blue and white checkerboard tiles, and a large fountain in the shape of a shell in the center. — Pena Palace ― 2019/05/03
1/1600s at f/4, 24mm, ISO 200, Fuji X-T20

A photo of Ed Horsford looking out over a round balcony to the landscape of Sintra beyond — Ed Horsford ― Pena Palace ― 2019/05/03
1/10000s at f/2, 53mm, ISO 200, Fuji X-T20

Looking from inside to a window looking out on a high vista. The interior is dark with dark wood window frame. Through the window the sky outside is bright. The window is made from two sets of 2x4 small glass frames. The bottom row is bright orange from an balcony outside. — Pena Palace ― 2019/05/03
1/800s at f/1.8, 28mm, ISO 20, iPhone 7

Looking down at a parque brick floor. At the base of the image are the photographer’s feet. Above them is speckled bright dots of light. — Pena Palace ― 2019/05/03
1/20s at f/1.8, 28mm, ISO 40, iPhone 7

Looking up at a tall ornate red building in Pena palace. — Pena Palace ― 2019/05/03
1/1300s at f/1.8, 28mm, ISO 20, iPhone 7

Looking on to an exterior wall in Pena Palace. The wall is fortified. — Pena Palace ― 2019/05/03
1/1300s at f/1.8, 28mm, ISO 20, iPhone 7

A close macro photo of some carvings in Pena Palace. The carvings look like worms / coral. — Pena Palace ― 2019/05/03
1/1400s at f/2, 53mm, ISO 200, Fuji X-T20

Castle of the Moors

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For my second attraction I visited the Castle of the Moors - an 8th century castle perched on the top of the hill. It’s something of a fairytale image with battlements stretching as far as the eye can see.