Lisbon surroundings
Lisbon is certainly a wonderful attractive, beaming and cultural destination, but this time you may suddenly have an overwhelming desire to stroll out of the Portuguese capital. Where to go ? A question which is thought - worthy ... Do you have any idea of how its surroundings might be? Of course, they are just as exceptional as each other ...
Sintra
The charming city of Sintra, located 30 km west of Lisbon, is a little piece of heaven that is definitely worth a visit! It is a small paradise that has not made indifferent the great personalities of the time: Portuguese kings, aristocrats, the upper middle class and a handful of romantic English including Lord Byron.
Everyone of them , with no exceptions have been enticed were baited by the Portuguese capital where slopes of a hugging summit climbed more than 500 m of altitude. Sintra also has a most exceptional microclimate to the naturalization of all kinds of exotic species and plants.
The city of Sintra is considered an epitome of Portugal exhibiting remnants of time to incomparable and unique splendor. One can mention its medieval castle, its royal residence of the Renaissance covered with azulejos, its palates of fantasy and its quintas encircled of beautiful green spaces.
The city is among other things formed of 2 entities very different from each other. Estefania is the most lively district of the municipality. It shelters the Museum of Modern Art. Sao Pedro, it settled in the heights, adopting this haunting country style with these charming flower houses. How to come to Sintra from Lisbon? By car, take the IC19 and get to the city by the N19. Parking is possible along the Volta do Duque.
Cascais
The beautiful seaside resort of Cascais is separated from Lisbon by a distance of 26 km. This former fishing village had a great time in the nineteenth century when wealthy English decided to invade its land.
During the years of its development, the city has found a certain beauty: pedestrian streets, fluorescent shops, decorated floors, small green spaces without the fortress of the seventeenth century now the multicultural center housing the archaeological museum of Cascais.
The village is today a smart center, favorable for the quiet walks between family, friends or with his lover. How to get to Cascais? You will have to go through Avenida 24 de Julho then take the N6 towards Estoril-Cascais. However, you can also take the train from Estaçao Cais de Sodré from Lisbon. If you live nearby, it is best to travel by bike.
