- Sintra
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A great wine bar at Casa da Guia near Cascais, with simple delicious food and, of course, very good wine. Fantastic views of the Atlantic Ocean. Well worth a visit.
Azenhas do Mar ("Watermills by the sea"), in the region of Sintra, is a charming village of whitewashed houses, trimmed in blue, built on the slopes of the cliff and a small river with waterfalls running down through gardens to the sea.
There are Interesting rock formations and natural seawater pools, plenty to keep the kids amused.
The watermills were a popular seaside retreat in the 1950s. They have recently been carefully restored, offering a restaurant, bar and swimming pool arranged on different levels.
The restaurant has a stylish seaside wood panelled interior with magnificent views to the Atlantic Ocean. It offers a great selection of fresh fish and seafood caught locally by one of the owners, and is complemented by an excellent wine list.
The snack bar, Terraço da Azenha, situated above the restaurant and swimming pool, has a series of small terraces with great views. Inside the bar, through a glass section in the floor, you can see the old workings of the mill. It offers a good selection of snacks including sweet and savoury crêpes.
Well worth a visit, and you will find great walks that will take you along the cliffs to the beaches of Praia das Maças and Praia Grande.
Off the N247.
www.lookgofind.com/
A walk that starts from the picturesque village of Azóia and takes you through the forest to Peninha, a castellated fort-like building, on top of the mountain as you look up from Cabo da Roca. This historical site stands on the ruins of a medieval chapel - Ermida de São Saturnino and the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Pena. At the top there are superb views of Lisbon, the Tagus estuary and the Atlantic Ocean.
Distance about 7.3km (1h 50 min.)
Start early in the morning and take some water, as in the summer months it can be rather hot.
The beaches of Sintra in Portugal - only a short trip down the coast from Lisbon - have been a popular destination for British tourists since the Christian crusaders first sailed to the region in 1147, yet most visitors remain completely unaware of the easily-accessable delights of the area.
Praia da Adraga - wild and wonderful, Praia Grande - great surfing and body boarding, and Praia das Maças - body boarding and good for families, are some of the best. Lifeguards are on duty from mid June to mid September.
If you like walking, there is a walk that takes you to all the beaches along the cliff tops, with spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean.
Monserrate Palace and Park, one of the most romantic sights in Portugal, a beautiful Victorian mansion rising out of vast botanical gardens.
Great meandering paths take you through the woods, rich in a variety of magnificent trees, past waterfalls, stepping stones and the chapel ruins coming out on to a vast hill of grass leading up to the palace.
A magnificent building recently restored, with a mix of Moorish and Italian decoration. There is a fantastic walk from here to the Capuchos Monastery, also known as Santa Cruz or the Cork Monastery, a quiet and tranquil place - a small monastery built in the rock. The tiny rooms lined with cork are a telling example of the humble and austere existance of the Franciscan friars who lived here.
Well worth a visit.
A fantastic cafe located on a typical cobbled road in Chão de Meninos, São Pedro de Sintra. Great coffee and cakes.
A traditional Portuguese period building tastefully restored in a rustic style. Choose from cushioned windowseats in the interior or sitting in the shade on the esplanade.
An excellent range of traditional pastries and cakes is available throughout the day, and at lunchtime, hot and cold meals are served with a selection of local wines. Don't miss it.
Café da Natália - 21 923 56 79
Mariazinha Casa de Pasto, a small restaurant in the village of Almoçagem, Sintra, on the way to the beach Praia da Adraga.
A traditional restaurant frequented by the locals. The interior is decorated with some interesting poems and sketches by the clientele. The restaurant offers typical Portuguese home cooking accompanied by jugs of wine.
Excellent value and a friendly service. A must if you are in the area.
There are great walks on the coast in Sintra, near Lisbon. One of them takes you from the beach of Praia da Adraga, a sand crescent tucked between tall cliffs, to the next beach, Praia Grande.
Stunning views of the Atlantic coast and dinosaur footprints made 120 million years ago imprinted in the cliff face at Praia Grande make this a superb walk.
You can continue the walk to many other beaches and sights from here, or simply return to your starting point.
Ask for maps at the tourist office in Sintra.
What a fantastic beach, a sand crescent tucked between tall cliffs, wild and wonderful, with great surfing breakers pounding the shore.
Take lunch at the restaurant which is great for fresh fish and seafood. You can choose your lobster or crab from the large tank. Recommended are amêijoas à bulhão pato (clams in garlic and white wine sauce),accompanied by a chilled bottle of vinho verde (green wine).
Walk over the cliffs to the next beach Praia Grande and see the dinosaur footprints imprinted in the cliff face. A wonderful day out.
Send your feedback or queries to been.there@guardian.co.uk
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first submitted a tip on 13 March 2007
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