We will begin our tour by visiting the Palace and Park of Monserrate, where the exotic vegetal motifs of the building’s interior decoration extend harmoniously to the gardens outside. The lawn in front of the palace offers you the chance to enjoy a well-earned rest as you set about discovering one of the richest botanical gardens and one of the most beautiful Romantic landscapes ever created in Portugal. the Palace of Pena, one of the most important examples of Romantic architecture in Portugal.
Over the years, the surrounding gardens have welcomed plant species from all over the world. Organised according to geographical areas (perhaps most notably that of Mexico), the gardens reflect the diverse origins of the plants, composing different scenic effects along the paths that lead you through ruins and hidden nooks and crannies, past lakes and waterfalls. It was, therefore, thanks to the intervention of the painter William Stockdale and the master gardener Francis Burt, but above all the romantic spirit of Francis Cook, that the Park of Monserrate grew to become what it is today. In the various gardens, as you walk along winding paths and commune with spontaneously growing species from the region (such as strawberry trees, holly bushes and imposing cork-trees), you will find surprisingly contrasting scenery, with the sudden appearance of age-old araucarias and palm-trees, and tree ferns from Australia and New Zealand, as well as agaves and yuccas recreating a corner of Mexico. This walk through the botanical delights of five continents also offers you camellias, azaleas, rhododendrons and bamboos, evoking memories of a Japanese garden. In 2013, the Park of Monserrate was distinguished with a “European Garden Award” under the category of the “Best Development of a Historic Park or Garden”.
Then we will visit the Pena Palace in the Pena park and is one of the best expressions of romantic architecture in Portugal. In 2007, was elected as one of the seven wonders of Portugal, this beautiful palace was the first romantic palace in Europe and was built 30 years before the charismatic Scholoss Neuschwanstein in Bavaria. The Park and the Palace were conceptualized as a whole. The Pena Park extends over 200 hectares with paths and scenic drives filled with fantastic garden buildings. The Pena park is considered the holder park in Europe’s richest and unusual set of tree species originating from different parts of the world.
Before lunch we will do a tour in historic town center where you can buy regional crafts, pastry or wine of the region, also here we can taste the delicious local pillows or the famous cheesecakes from Sintra.
Being now with ” charged batteries ” we will visit the National Palace of Sintra also known as the Town Palace and that was one of the Portuguese royal palaces with its construction began in the fifteenth century. Medieval architecture features, Gothic, Manueline, Renaissance and Romantic..
It has the largest collection of mudejar tiles of the country. The originality of its 2 large twin chimneys in the kitchen constitutes the “Ex-Libris of Sintra. This palace was used by the Portuguese royal family until the end of the monarchy in 1910.
Now we will visit Cabo da Roca, the most westerly point of continental Europe and about which the poet Luís de Camões wrote “where the land ends and the sea begins” in Lusíadas, corner VIII. The lighthouse which is at 165 meters altitude is dated 1772. From this point situated at the extreme end of the Sintra, we saw the immensity of the Atlantic Ocean and is therefore an emblematic place of Portugal. Here there is a confrontation between the earth and the sea. Felt all the continent weight on our backs while the eyes open for the Ocean invitation. This is a place of meditation that invites us to realize and respect the power and the mysteries of Nature.
We continue our tour, visiting one of the most mediatic beaches of Portugal, Guincho Beach,internationally known for its strong winds from north and searched by windsurfers and Kitesurfers from around the world
Boca do Inferno (Hellmouth) – The name assigned to this location due to the morphological analogy and the tremendous and frightening impact of waves. The characteristic that makes up the rock on the cliff is from carbonated nature. The erosion carried out by the action of rain water that contains dissolved carbon dioxide cause the dissolution of carbon. Through this process cavities and caves are formed.
It is quite possible that the place was an ancient cave. With the rebate of the layers above, the cave have been destroyed, leaving a huge cavity uncovered. Currently, the sea with violent and ruthless clashes rises to a white foam which reaches tens of meters high. The sea continues to wear the ancient rock increasing the awesomeness of Boca do Inferno. we continue our tour , visiting historic and iconic stretts to Cascais & Estoril.
Finish or in Cascais or in Lisbon making a beautiful route along the Estoril coast.
All prices are per person and all tours may be modified;
Minimum of 2 adults or 1 adult and 2 kids;
Kids < 12 years old receive half price tickets and < 6 years old are free;
Monument entrance fees not included.