Our Sintra visit with our guide, Nuno Sophiatours. Our first stop was Peña Palace. The Palace was built in the 19th C, so not “old”, but it was built to reflect the ages of Portugal over history. The yellow parts reflect the moorish period, the grey represents the medieval, the blue is for the maritime history and the Red is a restored Monestery of St Jerome.

Between raindrops,  we visited Quinta de Regaliere to see the Initiation Well, from KnightsTemplar times,  thought to be a part of their Initiation ritual.

The village of Sintra is a small mountain village,  a retreat from the heart of summer for Portugese royalty, exiled foreign kings, and wealthy foreign national too. The white Palace, the National Palace of Sintra,  is the first royal Palace in Sintra.  We enjoyed a lunch in the village at 1 of the oldest restaurants,  watched men make Pastel de Natas, and wandered a few small shops and mosaic’d walking streets.

After our Palace tours we enjoyed a drive to the Capo de Roca, the rugged coast when the most Western location of Europe looks out to the New World

Our last tour of the day was of the old fishing town of Cascais, which is evolved into the Riviera of Portugal.   The 3 things need to define a classic resort,  5 star hotel,  casino,  and elite beach,  are all there.