All's Well, That Ends Well

While staying in Lisboa, we took the train to Sintra, Portugal. We like to use public transportation when we travel. It helps you understand the local environment and how it functions. We had a little trouble with the ticket kiosk, but a kind woman came to help us and we were on our way.

Train station in Lisboa

Mr. Grumble and I waiting for the train

Our first stop was to the Moorish Castle. It is on one of the peaks in the Sintra Hills. It was founded in the 10th century when the Moors occupied the Iberian Peninsula. We took a bus to get up there.

When the bus drops you off, you take a long walk up to the castle.

It is sprawling castle grounds.

It was beautiful up here.

The views were spectacular.

Beautiful city of Sintra down below.

It was amazing all the places you could climb.

After we stormed this castle, we took a trail up to the Pena Palace. It is a 19th-century Romanticist palace and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Entryway into the palace.

Dining room and pantry

The Courtyard of Arches

Mr. Grumble had to carry his backpack like this. Made me laugh!!

The ceiling in the bedroom of Ferdinand II and Queen Amelia. The ceilings may have been my favorite observance in this palace.

This is another ceiling in Ferdinand II's bedroom. See what I mean? He must have liked his ceiling a lot, because he decorated the walls with it too!

Look at this ceiling in the Sitting Room. The ceilings were spectacular!!

Stag room

Outside Courtyard

After galavanting around the palace, we went down the hill into Sintra proper and toured the Quinta da Regaleira estate. This property was owned by a Freemason, Calvalho Monteiro. It was built by architect Luigi Manini. Our first stop was to the Initiation Well. It was built for spiritual reasons and designed to represent the nine circles of Dante's Inferno. It's only six stories deep, but as you walk down the steps, it does feel like more.

The tiles on the floor are of the cross of the Knight's Templar, a symbol of the Free Masons who believe in the Christian doctrine.

It had rained that day, so it is a bit of a mess.

Looking up.

Shenanigans in the well.

One of the tunnels outside of the well.

The Main Residence of Quinta da Regaleira

The Renaissance Room

King's Room

The gardens outside the estate are gorgeous and one of my favorite parts of visiting Sintra. Here are some examples:

The terraces are throughout the gardens.

Rapunzel, let down your hair!

At the top of the hill, you can see the Moorish Castle from here.

Back in Lisboa, we ate dinner at a rooftop restaurant and St. George's castle was our view.

By the end of this day, we had over 30,000 steps. It was worth it. If you plan a trip to Portugal, make sure you visit Sintra. It is a magnificent and pleasant fairytale adventure.

Next up, Tomar, Portugal.