Sintra

I remember Sintra fondly as a charming and architecturally interesting town from my visit in the 70s. Of course, it would change during the interim, but yikes! It's a seething tourist trap now, unrecognizable. Sintra also takes at least a day to do justice to it and we only have half a day, so altogether less fun than it should have been. Most of these first photos were taken from a moving horse carriage, so I ask your indulgence if they aren't well focused!

 

More Manueline architectural touches:

The Medieval National Palace, with its characteristic conical kitchen chimneys:

And the Tivoli Hotel, with its pretty formal gardens and views forever:

And finally, a distant view of our next visit, the Pena Palace: