Sintra - In which I find some whimsy and am swept by mountain breezes

Though I took a trip to Sintra out from Lisbon, I felt it deserved it's own article. Mostly because this place was absolutely enchanting. Sintra is an UNESCO World Heritage site, and it is the home of at least three large castles, one in the center of town, a moorish castle on the hill, but most of all, to the most famous one, the painted castle, Pena.

Walking around this place is like walking around Disney World if it were actually a real life place. Alright, Disney World does exist, but we all know it's there for your own amusement. The Portuguese Royal family actually lived in this castle. This building had a purpose other than to be the centerpiece of a tourist attraction. As it is, that it what it has become, but there is something so much more magical about the fact that this place wasn't solely built for show.

It's possible that it's the colors that make Castle Pena so intriguing. While we are used to seeing castle made of stone, or even white, a castle that looks like a little kid took a box of crayons and drew it on the side of a cliff just awakens the childish wonder in everyone.

From some angles the castle looked even more like a fairy tale than say, the cartoon version of Cinderella.

From the walls, however, there were absolutely breathtaking views. This is the Moorish castle I mentioned earlier. It also sits on the side of a cliff, overlooking the Portuguese countryside. 

If that wasn't enough, that is also the ocean in the distance. Not only is this castle stationed on top of a mountain, painted like it was designed by a whimsical 5 year old, and absolutely gorgeous, but is has an ocean view.

The inside was beautiful too, although undergoing some restoration efforts. The rooms were beautiful, and many of them were filled with beautiful details, including ceiling moldings, wallpaper, chandeliers, and stained glass windows, but I still found the outside of the castle the most enchanting.

It is fun, however, walking through a castle and finding details which look a bit absurd. Or that might be considered tacky anywhere else but an UNESCO World Heritage site. This chandelier/lamp/statue monstrosity was particularly intriguing.

My favorite part of the interior of the castle was the kitchens though. It made me feel like I was stepping into the set of Downton Abbey. Unlike the rest of the house, the kitchen was very orderly and minimally decorated, which made it a very peaceful place in the midst of a very colorful palace.

This castle was also in the middle of a natural park, which has tons of hiking trails for anyone who enjoys the great outdoors. The park was beautiful, with large trees framing beautiful paths, wildflowers blossoming everywhere, and the occasional monument in the middle of a pond.

The town was also a pleasure. It was small and touristy, but also was quite welcoming and felt completely different from what we had experienced in Lisbon. Besides the tourists, it was sleepy, idyllic, a picturesque mountain town which looked more or less like time had forgotten it for many years (as long as you ignored the strip of touristy restaurants). This town is a treasure, and although not a well kept secret, worth a visit for anyone who enjoys inserting a bit of whimsy into their travels.