PORTUGAL - Europe by Eurail 2015: Touring Europe by Train - page 470

According to the Sintra tourist information office, “Sintra is a location which is not to
be talked about, its history discussed, or its countryside described—it is a location
to be felt.” Sintra, with its ancient castles and palaces towering above the coun-
tryside, is the former home of Portuguese kings. Surrounded by mountains and
close by Cape Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe “where the land
ends and the sea begins,” its beauty is unparalleled. This is the place Lord Byron
termed “a glorious Eden,” and it's all only 45 minutes from Lisbon by train.
There is public transportation to most of the places of tourist interest, except to
the Gardens of Monserrate. Taxis and horse-drawn carriages are also available.
Taxis do not have meters, but the fare usually includes a fixed amount of time to
complete your sightseeing.
You'll probably want to visit the exquisite Sintra National Palace (Paço Real
or Palácio da Vila) first. Hours: 0930-1730 (until 1900 May-September) daily, ex-
cept closed on Wednesday, and there are no guides. There is a nominal admission
charge (€9.50) to the palace grounds. Inside, it possesses the most extensive col-
lection of Mudejar azulejos —colored glazed tiles—in the world.
Pena Palace's commanding position from the highest peak in the area makes it
well worth the visit. Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone]. Hours: October-March
1000-1800 daily, April-September 0945-1900 daily. Admission to the grounds,
€7.50, Palace tours €14. Hungry? Try Pena Palace's 100-seat restaurant offering
fine traditional and contemporary Portuguese cuisine.
The Queluz Palace captures the style of Versailles but on a smaller scale. It
houses a gourmet restaurant in its former kitchen area. Hours: 0900-1800 daily,
except closed Tuesday.
For a different experience, visit Sintra Toy Museum ( Hours: 1000-1800 Tues-
day-Sunday). Joao Arbués Moreira believed one could better understand the his-
tory of humankind through toys. He began his toy collection at the age of 14 with
toys from his grandparents, parents, and others. As he acquired money, he began
purchasing more toys. He spent a lifetime researching their manufacture and his-
tory and collected more than 20,000 different toys. You, too, can view this ex-
traordinary collection at the Museu do Brinquedo, the Toy Museum, located in
the old Sintra Fireman's Headquarters. Tel: [phone]; www.museu-do-brin-
quedo.pt . There's a toy restoration workshop, and the gift shop is a great place to
purchase that special memento. Admission €5.00 adults, €3.00 children.
Lisbon (Lisboa)—Sintra