10 Photos from Sintra to Make You Dream

Chronicles from Lisbon | Cabo da Roca

"Eis aqui, quase cume da cabeça

De Europa toda, o Reino Lusitano,

Onde a terra se acaba e o mar começa,

E onde Febo repousa no Oceano."

"Behold, near the top of the head

Of all Europe, the Lusitanian Kingdom,

Where the earth ends and the sea begins,

And where Phoebe rests in the ocean."

Luís Vaz de Camões, in Lusíadas 

"Where the earth ends and the sea begins" is how the Portuguese poet (and traveler) Luís de Camões describes the Cabo da Roca in its epic poem Os Lusíadas. And this cape, the most western part of Europe, can be seen as that. Also known as Moon Promontory (Promontório da Lua), is part of the Natural Park of Sintra and Cascais (Parque Natural de Sintra Cascais).

A stone column mark the geographical extreme of the continent to all who visit this place, and the view one can grasp on both directions is absolutely breathtaking. But be careful! The strong winds can be dangerous and you should not cross the wood fences that protect people from falling down.

Starting at Cabo da Roca, it is possible to follow several eco-trails, enjoying the vegetation and the spectacular views of the coast. Eventually you can arrive to the vicinities of Praia da Ursa. If you're prepared to a (very!) steep way down (and then back up!), please go, is nothing less than magical.

You can reach Cabo da Roca by car (about 30 minutes from Lisbon) or by bus, and at the location you can find a tourism information office, a small store, a café and all the necessary infrastructures. Reserve a few hours to walk around or a full day if you intend to go to Praia da Ursa. If you can, wait until sunset and enjoy it from this special place over the Atlantic.

Best Things to do in Lisbon | Free Wine Tastings

I'm sure that all you wine lovers out there love a wine tasting. Visiting a cellar or a wine bar, to hear about a wine and its history and to have the pleasure of enjoying it in a good company is always a great experience. If you can have all of this for free, it's even better! If you are near Lisbon, this week there are 2 amazing free wine tastings taking place on the 25th and the 28th, respectively in Lisbon and in Sintra. Visit the gorgeous Adega do Palácio - Wine Bar, and taste 5 wines from the Beiras region. Saturday, you can go to Sintra to know a little more about the Wine Route of Bucelas, Carcavelos and Colares and, of course, to taste its wines. Make your reservation right now!

Tenho certeza de que todos os amantes de vinho gostam de uma degustação de vinhos. Visitar uma adega ou um wine bar, ouvir falar acerca de um vinho e da sua história e ter o prazer de apreciá-lo em uma boa companhia é sempre uma ótima experiência. Se pudermos ter tudo isto de graça, é ainda melhor! Se estiver perto de Lisboa, esta semana há 2 provas de vinhos gratuitas que terão lugar nos dias 25 e 28, respectivamente, em Lisboa e em Sintra. Visite a belíssima Adega do Palácio - Wine Bar e experimente 5 vinhos da região das Beiras. No Sábado, pode ir a Sintra para saber um pouco mais sobre a Rota do Vinho de Bucelas, Carcavelos e Colares e, claro, para provar os seus vinhos. Faça a sua reserva agora!

Especially for all of the wine lovers, the Adega do Palácio - Wine Bar presents, on October 25th at 6:30 pm, the 4th edition of "Conversas na Adega" (Talks at the Cellar). With free admission, this edition of "Conversas na Adega" is offered with a wine talk and wine and sparkling wine tasting from the Lapa dos Reis family, a producer from the Beiras region, in Portugal. The wine talks and tastings happen monthly at the Adega do Palácio, so you better stay tuned for the next editions.

Especialmente para todos os amantes do vinho, a Adega do Palácio - Wine Bar apresenta, no dia 25 de Outubro, às 6:30 da tarde, a 4ª edição de "Conversas na Adega". Com entrada gratuita, esta edição de "Conversas na Adega" é brindada com um wine talk e prova de vinhos e espumantes da família Lapa dos Reis, um produtor vinícola da região das Beiras. Estas conversas e provas de vinhos têm lugar mensalmente na Adega do Palácio. Por isso, fique também atento às próximas edições.


Registration and Information:

Adega do Palácio - Wine Bar
Hotel Real Palácio
Rua S. Sebastião da Pedreira nº 234-C,
1050-210 Lisboa
Phone: 213 199 500
adegadopalacio@realpalacio.com

The Casa do Eléctrico de Sintra will host a commented wine tasting, entirely dedicated to the wines of Colares and the Wine Route of Bucelas, Carcavelos and Colares. The final edition of 2017's "A Glass with History" will be held on October 28 at 4:00 pm. These conversations and wine tastings will be conducted by winemakers and producers of the region. The admission is free, and subject to prior registration until the Wednesday before the session date.

A Casa do Eléctrico de Sintra acolherá uma degustação de vinhos comentada, inteiramente dedicada aos vinhos de Colares e à Rota dos Vinhos de Bucelas, Carcavelos e Colares. A edição final de "Um Copo Com História" de 2017 será realizada no dia 28 de Outubro às 4:00 da tarde. Esta conversa e prova de vinhos será conduzida por enólogos e produtores da região. A admissão é gratuita e está sujeita a registro prévio até quarta-feira antes da data da sessão.


Registration and information:

Casa do Eléctrico de Sintra
Rua General Alves Roçadas, 2
Sintra
Phone: 219 238 771/767

dtur.vila.alda@cm-sintra.pt

Lisbon Chronicles | Ursa Beach (Praia da Ursa)

Next to Cabo da Roca - a cape close to Lisbon, in the Sintra region - the Ursa beach (Praia da Ursa) is the most western beach in Europe and perhaps one of the most stunning beaches I've ever visited. Clear, bright waters (icy too!), pristine, white sand, just a bunch of people and an awesome landscape make this beach a spectacular place.

But all good things come with a cost. There is no direct access to the beach and you have to go down (and then up) a cliff for hundreds of meters on what can hardly be described a goats path. The next day my legs's muscles hake with all the effort, but the memories I hold from the place make it worthwhile.

You can walk from Cabo da Roca, enjoying the nature and the great views of the coast, and then go down to the beach. Make sure you get some shoes fit for the challenge (I was wearing Havaianas, and it wasn't the best choice, believe me!), and some water and food for the day. If you love photography, don't forget your camera as the scenery is absolutely breathtaking.

Hope you will enjoy it as much as I did!

Until Next Year February!

The smallest month of the year ends today and here I am, doing my monthly balance. The winter days invited to in-house activities like visiting art exhibitions and museums. I've been for the first time at the Chiado Museum and really enjoyed the amazing exhibitions on the work of Amadeo de Souza Cardozo and Almada Negreiros, two of the most important Portuguese modernist artists (the posts will be on line soon).

This month I've started a new series of posts on Best Things to Do in Lisbon, like Art Exhibitions, Walking Tours, Concerts or anything that I usually like and expect that you will like to know about if you are visiting the city.  The readers reaction was so positive that I'll try to make it a regular weekly series in order to keep you posted on the best activities available.

February was also Valentine's month and the post with my choice of Lisbon's hotels for a romantic retreat was a success. Of course these hotels are amazing for staying all year around and I hope to bring you some other and more detailed posts on what you can experience in each one of them.

As scheduled, the Paris City Guide went online this month and is already a success. I'll be looking forward for your feedback in order to design the best and most useful guides. Please take a look and tell me what you think about it.

I'm already looking forward to March and to the coming Spring. Until then leave you with the nine photos that are the Top 9 for February on our Instagram account. You can follow us there for daily photos and tips.

Love Chronicles | Romantic Spots in Europe

In total Valentine's spirit I've invited a few fellow bloggers to choose a city of their preference and present a city spot and  one or more activities for a great romantic experience. The lovely ladies from Doro Henrietta, Got the Travel Bug Too and Atlas Adrift joined me in this sweet task and here you have four Valentine's Day suggestions that not even the most romantic soul could refuse. Amsterdam, Rome, Venice and Sintra are overloaded with romance and just waiting for you to drop by.


AMSTERDAM by Doro Henrietta

There’s nothing more romantic than a walk along Amsterdam’s canals with your loved one. Being such a popular destination among tourists, Amsterdam tends to get pretty crowded though – not necessarily what you’re looking for on Valentine’s Day.

To escape the crowds, I’d suggest taking a walk through the “Westelijke Eilanden”, the “Western Islands”. These three manmade islands were built in the 17th century, as part of the third enlargement of Amsterdam. Nowadays, the area which has a village like feel to it, is a popular place of residence among Amsterdam’s creative souls.

The Western Islands are just a short walk south-west of the Central Station. Despite their central location, it is a very peaceful and quiet area, and probably my favorite hidden gem in Amsterdam. With its narrow street, beautifully restored 17th century canal houses and wooden draw bridges, the waterfront neighborhood is just perfect for getting lost!

If you fancy a drink or a bite to eat after your walk, you can head over to Jordaan District. The area is full of nice restaurants and little “terraces” and easy to reach from Amsterdam’s Centrum.



ROME by Got the Travel Bug Too

Rome is a magical city that could easily spark romance! I believe that Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck really brought out the romantic vibe of the “Eternal City” in their movie, “Roman Holiday”. It was filmed entirely in Rome and the story centers around Princess Ann (played by Hepburn), who sneaks out of the embassy and explores Rome without her security guards.  She meets an American reporter, Joe Bradley (played by Peck) who finds her sleeping on a park bench near the Roman Forum. Later, Joe decides to take Ann on a tour of Rome all while getting a juicy story for the newspaper (unknowing to Ann.)

At Piazza di Spagna, halfway up the Spanish Steps - Audrey Hepburn’s character sat and ate a gelato with her new friend, Joe. The Spanish Steps is the perfect spot for a romantic outing day or night. There is something magical about sitting on those steps with the one you love! In the piazza, there are many opportunities for a romantic carriage ride, including roses!

VENICE by Atlas Adrift

Ah Venice, the eternal city of romance! Pastel houses reflected onto calm waters make for the perfect getaway with that special someone. Honeymoon, anniversary, or just because.

Try to hide the blush as you lock lips with your sweetheart over a quintessential gondola ride through the twists and turns of the quiet canals. Take the scenic route from Barcino Orseolo to arrive at the Grand Canal. Touristy or not – this is an experience which can’t be missed!

Next, indulge in a gelato tasting together. I highly reccomed La Boutique del Gelato, where there are 100’s of delicious flavors to choose from!

Laugh and play together as you feed the pigeons swooping by in St Mark’s Square. Skip the long line at the bell tower of St Mark's, and take in the view from the San Giorgio Maggiore instead.

Enjoy dinner at Cantina Do Spade, the historic where the famous lover Casanova laid the pathway for romantic gestures. He was rumored to wine and dine women here in hopes they would fall for him. Sip red Italian wine at Do Spade bar on Calle de Spade, near the Rialto Bridge, where most of the love locks have sadly since been removed - a reminder of love and commitment around the world. 

After dinner, swoon over a ballet or opera performance amidst the gold balconies of Theatre La Fenice  opera house. 

SINTRA by The Wanderer's Chronicles

Less than an hour from Lisbon, Sintra is the epitome of romanticism. The luxurious woods in the mist, the castles and palaces, the small hotels and cosy restaurants, the beautiful parks, the legends and the stories, all contributes for a special feeling of romance and adventure while you wander its narrow streets and mountain roads.

Choose some of the attractions so you can enjoy them calmly and take a picnic for lunch. Do not forget to buy some sweet travesseiros on arrival at Sintra. You can find this pastries at Piriquita in the town center. Head to the palace (by buss or more romantically by coach) and make the tour. Than you can walk trough the park and visit the Chalet of the Countess of Edla, the romantic hideaway of D. Fernando and Elise Hensler.

Have your picnic at Monserrate park. The Park and Palace of Monserrate are some of the most beautiful architectural and landscape Romantic creations in Portugal. The gardens have received species from all corners of the world, and a walk trough its grounds after lunch will surely be an enjoyable moment.

You are not that far from the town, and you're just on time to have your afternoon tea at Lawrence's (the oldest hotel in Portugal) before return to Lisbon. For extra  romance, you can stay for dinner or even for the night, as the hotel has the most romantic suites with stunning views to the park.

Lisbon Chronicles | National Palace of Sintra

In the town's historic center of the romantic Sintra lies the National Palace of Sintra, also known as Palacio da Vila. Being the only intact medieval royal palace in Portugal, this is an unique monument whose historical value is matched by its architectural and artistic importance.

Conquered from the moors in the twelfth century, it had some adaptations, enlargements and improvements on the thirteenth and sixteenth centuries. Since then, the palace maintains the same essential features that characterize its present appearance.

Some of the highlights os the palace include the Swans Hall and the Hall of Crests, whose summit bears the arms of D. Manuel, his children, and seventy-two of the most important families of Portuguese Nobility. The walls of this hall are fully covered in eighteenth century Portuguese tile, and the view from the room is absolutely breathtaking.

The chapel, decorated in the Mudejar style, with Spanish-Moorish tiles covering the walls is one of the remaining examples of this period in Portugal. The Arabic room, partially covered with geometric matrix tiles, and the magnificent central courtyard, with its twinned arches are also special places of the palace.

Nevertheless, for most people, the main highlight are the kitchens, built on the eastern side, with their two conical 33 m high chimneys, which have become the palace’s distinguishing feature and the hallmark of the town of Sintra itself.

Palácio Nacional de Sintra
Largo Rainha Dona Amélia, 2710-616 Sintra

Opening Hours and Ticket Prices:

09h30 – 19h, last ticket 18h30

Adults (18 – 64 yrs) – 10 € |  Youths (6 – 17 yrs) – 8,50 € | Seniors (over 65 yrs) – 8,50 €

 To benefit from a reduction on your visit to several sites, there are combined tickets.

To get there, you can drive from Lisbon (about 30 minutes) or take a train. By train  (CP), you must take the Sintra Line, with Departure stations at Estação do Oriente, Estação do Rossio and Estação de Entrecampos.  From Sintra Train Station to National Palace of Sintra you can take a bus or enjoy a nice walk of about 10-15 minutes.