Page 151 - Cork & Tee Sample Program Flipbook, 2018

Day 10 – Saturday, October 21: Excursion to Sintra. Journey just 20 min today with your
private driver to Sintra, which has been charming visitors and residents for centuries. The hilly
area is known for lush vegetation and often is shrouded in mist. The Romans and Moors were
captivated by the area and it served as the summer residence of Portuguese royalty for
generations. The English poet Lord Byron, a one-time visitor, called Sintra a “glorious Eden”
and the most beautiful village in the world. Home to magnificent vistas and two fairytale
palaces, Sintra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We suggest you visit Pena Palace, the better
known of the two palaces of Sintra.
Built in the 1840s, this is one of
Europe’s most amazing palaces and
often is likened to Neuschwanstein and
the other mock-medieval castles of
Mad King Ludwig of Bavaria. We
must admit, the palace is a bit Dali-
esque, which is what is most delightful.
It includes a drawbridge, a
conglomeration of turrets, ramparts,
and domes, and a gargoyle above a
Neo-Manueline arch, all washed in an
array of pastel shades. The extravagant
interior is decorated in late Victorian and Edwardian furnishings, rich ornaments, paintings, and
priceless porcelain preserved just as the royal family left them. Other highlights include the
spacious ballroom, the marvelous "Arab Room," and an impressive sixteenth-century chapel
altarpiece (part of an original convent founded to celebrate the first sight of Vasco da Gama's
returning fleet). The surrounding park is filled with a variety of trees and exotic plants from the
former colonies of the Portuguese empire. The castle is located atop a mountain and you will be
sure to enjoy the most agreeable views that extend to the Atlantic Coast. You’ll have time for
lunch on your own in Sintra before returning to your accommodations in Cascais.

Enjoy the balance of your last day at leisure.

Proposed Accommodations: Albatroz Hotel

Day 11 – Sunday, October 22: Departure. We’ll arrange a 35-min private transfer from
Lisbon Airport for your return flight.
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