Cidade do Porto

Cidade do Porto eleita como o "Melhor Destino Europeu 2014"
A cidade do Porto foi eleita como o "Melhor Destino Europeu 2014", um galardão atribuído anualmente pela "European Consumers Choice", uma organização independente e não lucrativa, com sede em Bruxelas. in JN

"Eusébio nunca será suplente na equipa dos melhores de sempre"

Morreu Eusebio, o Pantera Negra

Morreu Eusebio, o Pantera Negra

Morreu Albino Aroso

Morreu Albino Aroso


 

Visit Sintra - Portugal

SINTRA

Sintra is a jewel set between the mountains and the sea, waiting to be discovered by all who dare lose themselves in its majestic historical heritage, luxuriant nature, cosmopolitan cultural offer and opulent gastronomy.



Sintra exudes a romantic aura that left a deep impression on the soul and work of the writers who, in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, pioneered the Romantic spirit and celebrated subjectivity and the emotion of the human drama.

It left its deepest mark on Eça de Queirós, Sintra’s romantic atmosphere can be sensed in his most important works, such as when he evokes moonlit walks around Seteais, long quiet rests at Penedo da Saudade and evenings in the village of Várzea de Colares.



Or then he recalls “a mild serenity of parks and woods”, “the silence of delicate repose and idle existences”. Or when he portrays the mountains as the “illustration of a beautiful fable of chivalry and love”.



Almeida Garrett, Camilo Castelo Branco, Fernando Pessoa, Aquilino Ribeiro and Vergílio Ferreira shared the same sense of wonder. And what to say of Ferreira de Castro, buried at his own wish on one of the mountain paths?

And of course Lord Byron, the English poet, who described Sintra as a “glorious Eden”



Sintra is truly the capital of Romanticism. It is a place to experience!

GALLERY

TOP THINGS TO DO

1

Visit of National Palace of Pena

Pena National Palace, in the historical town of Sintra and part of the Pena park, represents one of the best expressions in the world of 19th-century architectural Romanticism. On 7 July 2007, it was selected as one of the seven wonders of Portugal. It was the first Romantic palace in Europe, having been built about 30 years before the charismatic Schloss Neuschwanstein, in Bavaria.



The palace and park were designed and constructed as a single entity. From the palace, visitors look out on a mantle of greenery that covers over 200 hectares – Pena Park. This park offers wonderful walks, with numerous garden constructions.



There are bridges and grottoes, garden seats, pergolas and fountains, small houses to accommodate guards and other staff. There are also greenhouses and nursery gardens with camellias, rhododendrons and unusual, very rare climbing roses. Among the sculptures is the one of the warrior, which can be seen from the palace, who seems to be saying he is there to protect and guard it. The ponds near the exit to the Moorish Castle are likewise picturesque and pleasant, surrounded by a great hedge of tree ferns.



Pena Park is now considered to have the richest and most unusual collection of tree species in Europe, which no longer exist in many of the other countries and continents from which they originate.

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2
Visit of Regaleira Palace

Palácio da Regaleira (Regaleira Palace) is the main building and the more common name for Quinta da Regaleira (Regaleira Estate). It is also known as Palácio (palace) do Monteiro dos Milhões, after the nickname (“Millions Monteiro”) of its former owner, António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro. The palatial villa is situated on the mountainside not far from Sintra’s historical centre. It has been classified as a Building of Public Interest since 2002.



Carvalho Monteiro, based on a design by the Italian architect Luigi Manini, transformed the 4-hectare estate into a palace surrounded by lush gardens, lakes, grottoes and enigmatic constructions with hidden alchemical meanings, such as those evoked by the Freemasons, Templars and Rosicrucians. The varied styles of his design evoke Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Manueline architecture.



The Regaleira Estate is a place that has to experienced. It is not enough to describe the memories, landscape and mysteries. You have to discover it, contemplate the design of the gardens and buildings, admire the palace – a true philosopher’s mansion of alchemical inspiration – and walk round the exotic park and experience its spirituality.



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3
Visit of National Palace of Sintra

The National Palace of Sintra is also known as Palácio da Vila (Town Palace) and was one of the Portuguese royal palaces. It is located in the centre of the town. Building started in the 15th century, but the author of its design is unknown.



The palace has characteristics of medieval, Gothic, Manueline, Renaissance and Romantic architecture. It is considered to be an example of organic architecture, joining bodies that are apparently separate but which are part of an interconnected whole, by means of courtyards, stairs, corridors and galleries. It has the largest collection of Mudéjar tiles in the country. It is dominated by two large twin chimneys that crown the kitchen and constitute the “ex-libris” of Sintra.



The palace was used by the Portuguese royal family until practically the end of the monarchy, in 1910. In 2008, it was the most visited palace in Portugal, with 408,712 visitors.

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4
Visit to Cabo da Roca

The westernmost point of Europe “where land ends and the sea begins”, in the words of the poet Luís de Camões. The view from here is truly magnificent, extending from the Roca lighthouse to Adraga beach. The cliffs are 140 metres above sea level. It is situated in the parish of Colares, 18 km from the historical centre of Sintra.

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5
Gastronomy and wine

Sintra’s gastronomy patrimony is as diverse as tis monuments and landscape. Meat dishes include Leitão de Negrais, Carne de Porco ás Mercês, grilled goat and veal. The coast of Sintra region is abundant in fine fish and shellfish.







Of Sintra0s sweetmeats, we have to mention the old favourite Queijada de Sintra, a cheese tartlet dating from the middle ages ou earlier. There are others that are also worth trying, The travesseiros, the pastéis da pena, The Nozes de Colares and the Fofos de Belas.



Colares wine is indispensable accompaniment for any meat, particulaty the famous Ramisco wine, one of the Potuguese wines.

Rio do Prado - Óbidos

http://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/rio-do-prado.pt-pt.html

Palácio Ramalhete - Eça sempre Eça

http://booking.com/e42a8277c2d3