Description: At the heart of Sintra-Vila sits the beautifully preserved National Palace of Sintra (Palacio Nacional da Sin), the one-time seat of the royal family of Portugal. Kings and queens inhabited this castle almost continuously from the early 15th century to the late 19th, and it remains beautifully preserved with gleaming white walls and a red tile roof.
Architecture mavens will notice a blend of styles – Meditteranean, Moorish, early Manueline – while most visitors will be too busy marveling at the palace’s ornately painted arched wooden ceilings. Talking magpies boast the ceiling of the Salas das Pegas, while the ceiling in the Sala dos Brasoes bears 78 Portuguese coats of arms. Views from the palace are spectacular as well, whether you’re looking down on the palace’s gorgeous courtyards and gardens, or just marveling at the Atlantic coast.
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