Good Tuesday everyone! We have ready to share the first batch of pictures from our Sintra (Portugal) trip, but before starting with our summer adventures I’d would like to thank everyone stopping by my birthday post from last Saturday and specially to all the sweet words on your comments, it touches me deeply, thanks guys!
A few months ago my mom asked me for advice to go on a trip someplace beautiful with her sister (my auntie) and grandnephew. She had a big requirement: the place had to be near, enjoyable for adults and visitable in a few days; as she was not sure the kiddo was ready for a long trip – or maybe the adults to survive, hahaha, just kidding….kinda. So it then stroked me that I had seen a cute little village online called Sintra in Portugal. And since we had never been to our neighbors country, a second after she agreed we were joining in.
The most popular visits in Sintra are the Palacio da Pena palace & gardens followed by the Castelo dos Mouros, two places that are usually visited the same day one after the other for its proximity. Palacio da Pena is a royal & romanticist palace that mixes lots of different architectural styles such as Gothic, Islamic or Manueline resulting in a colorful palace that looks out of a Disney movie (and this is a compliment, you know how I love Disney!).
We read that you can reach every visiting site in Sintra at walking distance, but when we asked in our hotel they advised us that we would better get up there by bus (434) and if we had enough energy at the end of the day get back down walking. I think this was certainly a good piece of advice, so in case you are going there and doing the main circuit (da Pena & Mouros) consider paying the 4 € for the bus trip.
Palacio da Pena is not only worthy for itself, but the gardens surrounding are astonishing and for what it seems not that popular, which was a bonus for us after the quite crowded visit to the palace. We recommend climbing up to the Queens throne (Trono da Rainha) which will give you a refreshing view of the palace, the Column temple and the Lagoon valley, a 5 lagoon route with the most romantic atmosphere (and swans!)
Best pals! Samuel, my nephew (in fact my cousin’s son but I call him my nephew), loves Dani and all the games and tales they share. I hope it does not only have to do with a certain cars’ game Dani has in his phone ;)
This is what happens when you tell my nephew to act as if there were vampires behind that door, kids really are surprising!
Cat purse strikes back! Loved to be able to wear it during our trip, thanks Dani for the advanced birthday gift.
This is exactly the view you get from the Queen’s throne, Queen Amelia was a wise girl because this was her favorite part of the gardens.
I almost forgot! Another good tip if you are visiting 3 or more sites in Sintra is to buy the combined ticket for 30 € which will give you access to every palace, castle and gardens with the exception of Quinta da Regaleira which is privately running.
This pair of pictures is here to illustrate our photography tricks in crowded places like this: infinite patience! ha! :) We wait and wait until that magical second when not a single soul is in frame to click. The hallway looks much more nicer in the second one, doesn’t it?
The interiors of the palace are equally breathtaking (and excessive at the same time) with all the tiles, wallpapers and the use of trompe l’oeil techniques to simulate wood craving ceilings and walls.
And that would be all for today, second part of our Sintra series will include the second (and last visit) of our first day in the village, the Castelo dos Mouros. Keep tuned!
Do you like this exotic mix of architecture styles? Do you have tricks or recommendations on how to take photographs on crowded places? We would love to hear!
** This post is part of our Sintra series **
I think Sintra will be extra more crowdy thanks
to your pictures and posts about it :P
The 2nd picture, that little house covered in
moss looks really lovely c:
And you look lovely as usual, really adore your
cat purse! Xx
Hahahahahha thanks!! such a sweet compliment Mei! ♥ The gardens had that lovely decadent romantic atmosphere with moss-everything, so beautiful!
This place looks stunning! Yet another to put on the “must visit” list. And I love your outfit, Damaris. So cute.
Awww thanks Mariko! :) You can never go wrong with a batman-ish outfit, hahahaha
Molt maques les fotos com sempre! Veig que al final et vas comprar les aro blanques :-))
Merci guapa! Doncs sí, al final no em vaig poder resistir amb el preu que tenien, queden ben xulis :)
Ahhh, wanderlust is bursting through my pores! These photos are gorgeous, I wanna be there!
♥ ♥
eep! so pretty I feel your outfit Damaris suits all the scenes (the pinks and yellows) perfectly and three cheers for having photographer patience! I also love the vampires behind the door gesture – he he he. Kids can be super cute :)
Oh! Happy to read about my outfit matching nicely :) thanks Fee!! Samuel vampire gesture made me wonder: what would had been my gesture if someone asked me the same I did? hahahaha
The cat bag is so adorable! x
Yay, thanks! I’m very happy with my birthday gift.
This is such a beautiful place. I love that pop of yellow! You always have the cutest outfits! And that cat bag is such a great accessory! :)
The yellow pop was my favorite, we may have too many pictures in front of the yellow wall ;) ♥
I absolutely want to go there, now. And the pictures have such a summer-y, vibrant feel. I love it!!
Thanks!! We are sharing today a few tips that they may be useful if you eventually go there :) Definitely missing summer, the heat remains in Barcelona but I am not getting the same feeling from September as other years.
I’m in love with this palace <33 I've heard about Portugal palaces and they are so inspirational!! Especially for photography, I can't imagine how many photos you took :)
My only trick among many people is just to wait for a while to take pic :) and sometimes we try to find some hidden corners (backyards, small streets and less popular part of a touristic sight) even these kind of places are not so photogenic, they look magical somehow!
I can't take myself looking at these palace captures again and again.
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