The Area
The villa is only a short distance from Sintra with its monuments and cultural landscape as well as from excellent beaches, allowing an optimal combination of relaxing moments for getting around with cultural and other activities (check the tourist office for more information)
Sintra
Just 5 minutes away, Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (the first European Cultural Landscape in 1995) offers beautiful landscapes with lush green vegetation and many historical monuments to visit and lovely places for shopping.
Monuments
In the village of Sintra and the neighbouring hills, classified by UNESCO in 1995 as the first Cultural Landscape of Europe, several monuments may be visited, including:
National Palace of Sintra - Erected during the Muslim rule on the Iberian Peninsula, with several changes under the reign of Kings Dinis, John I and Manuel I, keeping its silhouette from the mid-sixteenth century.
Pena Palace - The Park and the Pena Palace, deployed in the Sintra hills are the epitome of Romanticism of the nineteenth century in Portugal, with architectural references to Manueline and Moorish influence.
Moorish Castle - fortification built around the tenth century after the Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, and expanded after the Christian Reconquista it commands a unique panorama that stretches to the Atlantic Ocean.
Capuchin Convent - built in direct contact Franciscan convent with nature and according to a philosophy of extreme stripping architectural and decorative, small size and remarkable for the extreme poverty of its construction with extensive use of cork ("Convent of the cork").
Monserrate Palace - one of the finest architectural and landscape creations of the Romanticism in Portugal, it combines Gothic influences, Indian and Moorish suggestions as well as exotic and plant motifs extending harmoniously to the lawns and botanic garden.
Beaches
More than a dozen beaches may be enjoyed in Sintra and its surroundings including:
Praia Grande (15 min drive) ideal for surfing and body boarding (surf schools: SurfAt, PGSS), World Championship stage;
Praia das Maçãs (10 min drive) with a picturesque tramway connecting it to Sintra, SurfAt and several restaurants;
Azenhas do Mar (5 min drive), stunning cliff over the sea the coast, with natural pool and fish restaurants;
Magoito/Aguda (10 min drive), with many rocky nooks and magnificent cliffs;
Adraga Beach (20 min drive, with a typical restaurant specialising in fresh fish);
Guincho (30 min drive), ideal for surfing and kite/wind-surfing (also rentals), World Cup stage of Surfing and Windsurfing.
Ericeira (30 min drive) many beaches excellent for surfing and body boarding.
Getting Around
Several typical villages can be visited nearby (Colares, Almoçageme, Azenhas do Mar, Gouveia, Fontanelas) with restaurants and markets offering food of excellent quality (including fresh fish and seafood). See the map for some suggestions on restaurants and other services.
Walking Paths
There are several very enjoyable walking paths by the cliffs, that are perfectly safe, even for children. See more info here.
Other Activities
The Cultural Landscape of Sintra provides a most suitable environment for various leisure activities (see ActiveSintra), including bicycle riding (check for e-bike or bike renting), Ziplining, Hang Gliding and Paragliding, as well as climbing and abseiling or yoga.
Equestrian centres (e.g. the Paddock, 1 km from the villa or a bit further in Beloura) provide horseback riding and lessons.
Less than 30 minutes by car you can find several world-class golf courses either in the Sintra municipality (Penha Longa, Beloura, Carregueira or Belas) or in nearby Cascais (Marinha, Oitavos, Estoril).