We will head to the suburbs of Lisbon, to the city of Sintra. Once, this place served as the summer residence of Portuguese monarchs, and now the cultural landscape of Sintra is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
You will visit the fairy-tale palace “Pena” – this is how the former summer royal residence is called – the Pena Palace, which traces its lineage back to 1839. The palace, resembling a fairy tale, conveys an atmosphere of magic. The architect of the palace was the German baron Eschwege, who had the courage to mix different architectural styles. And of course, the royal park deserves special attention. King Ferdinand II ordered trees from different corners of the planet to be planted – these are cypress, magnolias, camellias, azaleas, and a wide variety of ferns. The park was planted over a period of 4 years.
Next, you will encounter the mysterious and mystical Quinta da Regaleira, whose owner was the famous millionaire from Brazil, António Carvalho Monteiro, who, upon purchasing the estate, built a kind of palace of philosophy with a beautiful paradise garden. Each object in the garden occupies a specific, non-random place, all arranged according to a certain pattern. There are also suggestions that António Carvalho Monteiro belonged to a Masonic society, and that there is indeed a place on the estate where the secret initiation rite of a “newcomer” took place. In short, Quinta da Regaleira is a find for those interested in esotericism, alchemy, and Freemasonry. Next, you will enjoy a walk through the city center, where the Royal National Palace is cozily located along with numerous souvenir shops where you can buy something memorable about this amazing city.
On this day, you will have the opportunity to conquer the westernmost point of the Eurasian continent – Cabo da Roca. There, everyone can receive a colorful certificate stating that they have been to the edge of the Earth. From a height of one hundred and forty meters, admire the beautiful landscape and take a deep breath of the cool ocean air. And on a light wave of emotions, after overcoming the mountain serpentine, descend into the mysterious gorge “The Devil’s Mouth.”
After that, you will head to Cascais, which is a summer resort for the rich and idle, as well as a fishing village and a second home for many foreigners who decided to move to Portugal. Cascais offers all the pleasures and amenities of an exquisite European seaside resort just a few minutes’ drive from the capital, with attractions ranging from hotels to casinos, from restaurants with sea views to languid beaches.
