Local services in Sintra
Sintra is a resort town in the foothills of Portugal’s Sintra Mountains, near the capital, Lisbon. A longtime royal sanctuary, its forested terrain is studded with pastel-colored villas and palaces. Sintra is known for its many 19th-century Romantic architectural monuments, which has resulted in its classification as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although its heritage in buildings and nature is the most visible face of the historic individuality of Sintra, a whole literary heritage has made the area a legendary reference in Portuguese culture. It has become a major tourist centre, visited by many day-trippers who travel from the capital Lisbon. In addition to the Sintra Mountains and Sintra-Cascais Nature Park, the parishes of the town of Sintra are dotted with royal retreats, estates, castles and other buildings, including the mediaeval Castelo dos Mouros, the Pena National Palace and the Sintra National Palace.
Exploring Portugal’s open-air markets is a great way to start your discovery of what is on offer and Sintra plays host to several markets on a regular basis. Head to the municipal market for colourful fresh produce, as inviting as the happy, welcoming smiles of the stallholders and to the lively market held in the suburb of Sao Pedro on the second and fourth Sundays of the month for artisan goods, household staples, shoes and clothing. The Sintra Bazaar is another market-style retail area. Here at the Sintra Bazaar you can choose from a whole range of household goods, trinkets, gifts, jewellery and random market-style items. The Sao Pedro market is interesting from historical perspective too, as it dates back to the times of the Christian Reconquest several centuries ago.
