This is a three masted sailing frigate tied up at the quay
east of the city center, representing Portugal’s
maritime past. It functions as a living history museum, shedding light on what
life was like on ships during the great Age of Exploration.
Museu
Nacional do Azulejo
This
is a specialized museum, totally devoted to the art of tiles. It has examples
of azuelos (arts made of glazed tiles) from the 15th Century to the
present.
Sintra
Sintra
is about seventeen and a half miles northwest of Lisbon and is well worth a day
trip from the city.
Palacio Nacional de Sintra
This former royal residence is a stunning mixture of Moorish
and Portuguese architecture and is set like a jewel in the midst of the old
town. A series of remarkable chimneys
connect to a kitchen complex that, if one didn’t know any better, would still
seem to be in use. The palace contains numerous furnished rooms open to the
public. The Torre da Meca has some houses for doves in the cornice, which is
decorated with nautical motifs. The Sala dos Brazões has a round ceiling of
this room which is decorated with veals that show the symbol of 74 Portuguese
families. The walls are covered by panels made with tiles dating from the 18th
century. The Sala das Pegas has ceiling panels decorated with magpies,
commissioned by King Joao 1st as a reprimand to some of the ladies
of the court who were overly fond of gossip. There is also a sumptuous garden,
surrounded by a wall.
Palacio da Pena
The Palacio da Pena was built in Gothic style high on a hill
and looking much like a fairytale castle. The palace is surrounded by a
beautiful park filled with a variety of trees and flowers brought from every
corner of the Portuguese empire by King Fernando in the 1840's.
Castelo das Mouros
The Moorish Castle was built in the 9th Century
as a defensive fortress. It was conquered by King Afonso Henriques in 1147 and
later restored by the consort King Fernando of Saxe Coburg-Gotha in 1860. The
view from the walls, which is a bit of a climb but worth it, is nothing short
of spectacular. Inside the castle there are ruins of a chapel and a Moorish
cistern.