Portugal: Sintra

23 km from the capital of Portugal Lisbon lies a small town of Sintra, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. His most famous attraction – Palace of Pen. Among other monuments that glorified Sinthra to the whole world – Mavrov Castle. It was built in the IX or X century on the top of the mountain: from here Mauri could control the main paths connecting Lisbon, Sintra, Mafru and Cascais.

Over the next centuries, the castle passed from Muslims to Christian knights and back, until the Maurus surrendered to the King of Afonus I in 1147. His son Santu I repaired the castle, and the temple of St. Peter was built inside. But in the XV century, most residents descended down – where the modern city of Sintra is located, and the fortress has lost its strategic importance and began to decline. The last blow caused the forces of nature: after zipper, destroyed the tower, in 1755 a destructive Lisbon earthquake occurred.

In 1840, the restoration of the castle was engaged in King Fernanda II, rebuilt walls and towers in the style of medieval romanticism. In the middle of the 20th century, the walls were reinforced, and now this outstanding attraction is available to tourists. From here there is a magnificent view of Sintra and Ocean.

The National Palace of Sintra appeared simultaneously with the castle of Moors and was also captured by King Afonso I. However, the architecture of those times has not been preserved: its current appearance, uniting Mauritan style, Manuelino and Gothic, the palace acquired in the XV – early XVI century.

Unusual historical Sinthra Sightseeing – Clock Tower. In the past, she was part of the prison, and her bell not only notified about the time, but also gave an alarm in case of escape prisoners. In 1911, a correctional institution moved, and in these walls is now the city post. It is not known how the tower looked at the beginning of its existence: it became one of the many objects destroyed by the earthquake of 1755. Now the clock tower is a bright example of the architectural style of Pombinalino. The largest statesman of that time Marquis Pombal found a way to make new buildings more persistent, strengthening the facade of tiles.

Palace-Park Complex Kinta da Regaleir – Bright and Mysterious Sightsee of Sintra. The first mention of it relate to 1697: in the notes it is that a certain Jose Leite acquired on the outskirts of the city of the estate. In later documents, the name Quinta da Torre appears ("Veriation of the Tower"), but what kind of tower is in question, it is unknown – after this possession has bought a patronage and collector Carvalus Montica, he began a large-scale restructuring. The result of the work that lasted for more than a hundred years was the magnificent neogenic castle, surrounded by an ideal garden and richly decorated with towers, eagles, ridges, as well as symbols of Freemasonry, among which – a 30-meter tower-leaving underground. It is rather possible to compare with a well in which, as it is believed, the ritual of dedication to the Masons was held. And the very name of the estate dates back to the word "REGAL" – translated from Latin "Kingal".