Free tour

Sintra Walking Tour: Local History; Tips Of Food, Traditional Sweets, Fun Facts

4.75

Good (214 ratings)

Sintra

Duration: 2 hours

Languages: English

Guru: José

Registered on 15 May 2021

Hi! I'm Jose :) I´m a local guide, born and raised in sintra. I know sintra many years before the turism started, before 1996, it was my playground and a place for locals. I heard many legends about mysticism, secrets and sintra stories, told by local elders. Later I joined a group in sintra and deepened my historical knowledge and the Portuguese spiritual tradition linked to the Templars and knights of order of christ. The passion for history comes from my father, a history teacher. Now, I'm responsible for sharing my passion and knowledge in a immersing guided view of Sintra, all the palaces from different centuries including Quinta-da-Regaleira, and Pena Palace. Local of the romanticism movement and culture, and a place of deep connection with mather nature.

Free booking and cancellation

Pay-what-you-wish tour, no set price, booking and cancellation are free

Tour description

The mist of time hides many stories of the old Sintra). This captivating tour will guide you through a history of romanticism, medieval ideals, and mysticism.
We will begin at the exquisite town hall, with its achiteture of manuelism style. Facing the Sintra mountains. (Mons lunae). With the Moorish castle looking down on us, we will share stories about the origins of portuguese monarquia, the templars movement in Portugal. After knowing the story behind the Sintra’s mouthwatering pastries, (Queijada, Travesseiro e pasteis cruz alta), we set off to explore and understand why Sintra is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

On this tour we will visit the São Martinho church (knigths templar church) The Sintra National Palace and its relation to the Discovery portuguese navy age, the Sintra castle always lurking, and the luxurious Sintra forests always around us. Many consider Sintra one of the most beautiful places in the world. Its palaces and castles and many other chateaux and mansions in Sintra are part of the Romantic Movement of the XIX Century which transformed this charming medieval town into a romantic capital and the spiritual capital of Port-Graal or Portugal...

Highlights

What will we see on this tour?

Meeting point:

Av. Dr. Miguel Bombarda 6, 2710-631 Sintra, Portugal

Cafe Saudade, Green Olive Back pack.

Outside visit

Jardim Correnteza

This is one of the most popular leisure spots in Sintra, largely due to the monumental complex and the green landscape that can be glimpsed from its walls: the Raposa Valley, Vila Velha with its houses and the National Palace of Sintra and the ocean on the horizon. At the top, the Castelo dos Mouros. Very close to the Historic Center of Sintra, in this viewpoint easily accessible from the Sintra train station, you can sit down to rest and admire the breathtaking view.

Outside visit

Largo Dr. Virgílio Horta

The city hall palace as a lot of the historical signature of the portuguese neomanuelin style and rainessance period, with the cruz of the portuguese knigth templars. this is where this journey of descovery starts...

Outside visit

Largo Rainha Dona Amélia

In the center of the village of Sintra, marking the landscape with the unmistakable silhouette of the two conical chimneys that crown the royal kitchen, stands the only palace that has crossed the entire history of Portugal.

How much does this tour cost?

Free tours don't have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end the amount they consider appropriate (amounts usually range from €10 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).