Sintra with Sig!!!

After Belem, we took a much longer day trip to Sintra. This is the second visit for me, so you already have heard about Sintra on this blog. However, our agenda was much different than the first time I visited the little town.

Our first stop was the Castelo dos Mouros…

The Castle is from the age when the Islamic Moors from North Africa ruled over almost the entirety of the Iberian Peninsula. Interestingly enough, some of Sigrid’s ancestral countrymen sacked the castle in 1109; quite a feat considering that the entire structure lies at the very top of the mountain surrounded by rocks and trees…

The castle was turned over to Portugal after the capture of Lisbon in 1147, and the Moors barracked there retreated further south.

Actually most of what you see is a reconstruction done in the 1800’s. The idea was to create a nostalgic feel for the medieval days. Considering the weather when Sig and I visited, I’d say they succeeded…

The views from the ramparts were spectacular and I went a little crazy with the panoramas…

Pretty neat place…

We had fun…

It has a fine view of the town as well…

A view of out next destination, the Pena Palace…

Second visit for me to this real strange, architecturally speaking, place…

Here is a breathtaking view from Pena. I especially like it because it has the castle right in the middle…

After that we went back down into town for lunch. It was the most delicious Bacalhau à Brás. That is shredded codfish in fried potatoes and eggs. It is wonderful!! One of the things I will miss from Portugal.