About this experience
Half an hour from Lisbon and you are in the fabulous Sintra, an incredibly beautiful city of palaces, royal residences, and monasteries. I will help you see all the most interesting places, taste all the most delicious food, and tell you about the history of Sintra and its mysterious legends. You will visit the Royal Palace and the mysterious Regaleira Estate, the abode of Masons and alchemists. You will wander through the labyrinth of streets, visit colorful shops, taste cherry "ginja" and local sweets.
What to expect
Residence of Portuguese Monarchs
From the Sintra train station, we will head to the oldest surviving palace in Portugal - the Royal (National) Palace, recognized by its two high conical smokestacks. You will tour the palace inside and out, see unique tiles, a distinctive element of Portuguese architecture decor. You will learn about the history of the Portuguese monarchy and the palace itself, built in the 14th century on the site of an Arab ruler's residence.
See Sintra from the Inside
You will stroll through the streets of magical Sintra, learning about the city's history and immersing yourself in its atmosphere. I will show you the most interesting and tasty places in the city: where to have a cup of coffee with local sweets, try cherry liqueur "ginja" in a chocolate cup, taste port wine or local wine, buy souvenirs and much more.
Mystical Regaleira Palace
And now you will find yourself in the most mysterious place in Sintra - the Regaleira Estate. This palace must be visited by everyone interested in Masonry, alchemy, and esoteric practices. Every meter of the estate is shrouded in secrets and legends, with Templar and Freemason symbols everywhere. You will learn the mysterious history of the owner of Regaleira, walk through the palace park, and then descend into the Well of Initiations through a spiral staircase leading to a labyrinth of grottoes. After overcoming the 9 flights of stairs, which correlate with Dante's 9 circles of Hell, you will try to choose the right way out of the well to symbolically be reborn, according to the legend.
Organizational details
- Additional expenses: entrance tickets to the National Palace - 13€ per person, Regaleira Palace - 12€ per person, personal expenses for souvenirs and food.
- We will meet at the Sintra train station, where the tour will begin. The most convenient way to get from Lisbon to Sintra is by train.
