Sintra (Sintra), Portugal’s northern suburb of Lisbon, is a small town that is a fairy tale kingdom gathering European Romantic architecture. The Portuguese royalty built numerous castles in Sintra, turning princes and princesses into fairy tales. Here, there is beautiful natural scenery, and a wealth of historical castle relics, making Sintra designated as a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape. It attracts a steady stream of tourists and immigrants, friends of Portugal, who come here to seek the lost fairy tales.
From the Roman and Moorish occupation to the establishment of Portugal, from the Age of Discoveries to the decline of the Portuguese Kingdom, from dictatorship to democracy, Sintra has witnessed every historical turning point in Portugal. Its geographical proximity to the capital, Lisbon, intertwines Sintra closely with Portuguese history. It resembles an ideal world on the other side of a mirror, rising above the heat of power and desire like a lotus flower that emerges unsullied from the mud, standing in stark contrast to the capricious political atmosphere of Lisbon, further solidifying its impression of beauty and elegance. In the real world below, the nobility of palaces is busy vying for power and profit, then they ride on white steeds pulling golden carriages, galloping all the way to the dream palaces of Sintra, where they read, paint, and stroll hand in hand on the ruins of the Moorish castle (Castelo dos Mourous), climbing the high towers to gaze at the silvery bay where mermaids appear, smiling as they capture the clouds that escape into the houses. Here, no one forces them to be overwhelmed by ledgers filled with deficits, and no one discusses distant wars or far-off worries. They become the princes and princesses of fairy tales.
Today, Sintra is no longer the exclusive domain of the nobility; commoners can also stroll into the Pena Palace to admire the ceramic wall decorations of the queen's bedroom, the gilded dome of the armory in the Sintra Palace (Palácio Nacional de Sintra), the luxurious Rococo decor and elegant gardens of the Queluz Palace (Palácio Nacional de Queluz), and the palace of Monserrate (Palácio de Monserrate), which resembles the Eastern palaces from the tales of One Thousand and One Nights. As the English poet Byron, who loved Sintra, once said: "Palaces and gardens rise between rocks, waterfalls, and cliffs, and monasteries stand on astonishing heights," Sintra is indeed the Garden of Eden on earth. Perhaps we need not feel sorrow for the tragedies of the "real" princes and princesses, for only in such an era can "ordinary" people like us have the opportunity to experience the beauty of this fairy tale world.
In Sintra, riding in a horse-drawn carriage can allow even commoners to experience the fairy tale atmosphere of becoming a princess.
The fountain in front of the Sintra Palace.
The Sintra Palace is located in the center of Sintra town and is one of the summer residences of the Portuguese royal family.
The avenue from the train station to the center of the ancient town of Sintra is gradually filled with various artworks, allowing pedestrians to enjoy art while strolling towards the Sintra Palace.
The main entrance of Pena Palace is filled with Eastern colors.
The architectural style of Pena Palace is unique, blending various architectural styles.
The architectural style of Pena Palace is unique, with vibrant colors, resembling a castle from a fairy tale.
The entrance to the castle square features sculptures in the style of sea gods.
Sintra also has many famous pastry shops, and this pastry shop showcases a model of the Sintra Palace made of sugar cakes.