Lisbon Sightseeing & Sintra Village

Viewpoint Senhora do Monte, located in the Graça district, offers a unique panorama, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful views of Lisbon, especially because it is one of the highest points in the city. The half-moon shape gives a broader view of Lisbon, from which you can see the Graça Church, the Tagus estuary and the other bank, São Jorge Castle and the roofs of Mouraria. Further on, the lower Pombaline, the ruins of the Convento do Carmo, the Serra de Monsanto and the Penha de França. These points are marked on a tiled panel in the viewpoint, so that visitors can identify the monuments.

O Parque e o Palácio da Pena, implantados na serra de Sintra e fruto do génio criativo de D. Fernando II, são o expoente máximo do Romantismo do século XIX em Portugal, com referências arquitetónicas de influência manuelina e mourisca.

O Palácio foi construído para ser observado de qualquer ponto do Parque, floresta e jardins luxuriantes com mais de quinhentas espécies arbóreas oriundas dos quatro cantos do mundo.

Santa Luzia Viewpoint in Lisbon has an imposing panoramic view over the typical Alfama district and the Tagus River. Below the maze of Alfama, the immense Tagus estuary make up the atmosphere along with a cheerful garden space, tile panels, a water mirror and terraces. Characteristic points from left to right are the dome of St. Engracia, St. Stephen’s Church and the two white towers of St. Michael’s Church. The south wall of Santa Luzia has two modern tile panels, one from Praça do Comércio before the earthquake and one with Christians attacking São Jorge castle. The esplanade invites contemplation and on the opposite side of the street is the Azurara Palace, home of the Espírito Santo Foundation, which houses a museum and a school of traditional Portuguese arts. Next door is the sloping Travessa de Santa Luzia, with craft and antique shops.

Praça do Comércio is the most important square in Lisbon. For decades, it has been Lisbon’s gateway to maritime commerce. The square was built where the Royal Palace was before it was destroyed by the great earthquake of 1755. The face of the Commerce Square is formed by a set of buildings installed on three sides and is open on the south side, looking to the Tagus. Historically there came the merchant boats and this was the port of Lisbon.

Sintra’s historic center is an open-air museum full of magnificent treasures. The village of Sintra, at the base of the Sintra Mountains, was for a long time a royal sanctuary. Amidst its vast vegetation are incredible castles, palaces, gardens and farms.

The millennial history of Sintra Town Hall begins during Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula. Already mentioned in the 11th century, the early Moorish palace – property of the Portuguese Crown after the conquest of Lisbon by D. Afonso Henriques (1147), 1st King of Portugal – is first intervened in 1281, during the reign of D. Dinis. New constructive bodies are added over time under the reigns of D. Dinis, D. João I and D. Manuel I, maintaining their silhouette since the mid-16th century.