Indirizzo:
Campo Grande nº30 B
1700-093 Lisboa

Tel: 217 998 540
Fax: 217 998 549
Email: reservas@dianatours.pt

Considered not only one of the wonders of Portugal but indeed of Europe, Sintra is truly a gem. Once the royal town of the country, it now deservedly holds UNESCO world heritage status and attracts hordes of visitors throughout the year. With its extensive range of green bills with its crags - the Serra de Sintra - so picturesquely situated and offering stupendous views of the coastline with its impressive beauty, Sintra is indeed "a garden of the earthly paradise".

From the train station, the vila is a 15 minute walk away or a small taxi fare, passing the blue and white tiled housing of a natural spring where locals queue to collect cool water from the hills. Alternatively, horse drawn carriages transport up to 5 people around Sintra for a fairly reasonable price. Once in the vila, each of the windy and narrow medieval streets leads to a treasure; be it one of the many dilapidated town houses exuding airs of past glories or the Toy Museum with its enormous collection from over many decades. Craft shops sell a host of local artisan specialties and a range of cafes and restaurants offer a perfect resting place. For the sweet toothed, two local pastries stand out: the Queijadinha, a small soft-cheese based tart; and the Travesseiro, a sweet fruit filled pillow eaten warm.

The three National Palaces - Palácio da Vila, Palácio da Pena and Palácio de Queluz - and the various municipal museums, contain important historical and artistic collections which document the dynamic way in which the peoples of Sintra have throughout the centuries succeeded in enhancing their space and, also, the attraction that Sintra has always had for outstanding Portuguese and foreign artists, who have enriched a patrimony that is of worldwide importance.