The Sintra mountain range stretches from the town of Sintra to Cabo da Roca, the western-most point of continental Europe. Its highest point is about 1,700 feet near Sintra itself. Much of the mountain range is lush, tree-filled public parkland that offers beautiful views of the Atlantic. We spent a day hiking there with our Cascais-based friends, Will and Heather, and enjoyed lunch at the picturesque Moinho Dom Quixote (Dom Quixote Mill) restaurant in nearby Azóia.
High up the Sintra mountain range is an early 20th century palace known as the Sanctuary of Peninha (meaning: small rocky outcrop). It is an ugly structure, frankly, and so it is surprising that it was built by António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro, the same "Monteiro the Millionaire" who built the amazing Quinta da Regaleira in the town of Sintra (see blog: Sintra - Part 2). It was never completed and changed hands a few times. It is now owned by the state and there are plans to renovate it.
In front of the palace is Nossa Senhora da Peninha, an early 18th century chapel built by monks who were inspired by an apparition almost a century earlier of the Virgin Mary appearing before a shepherdess. Neither the chapel or the palace are fully open to the public at this time.
The Peninha hills have been an hermitage site since the beginning of Christianity in Portugal and remains of medieval buildings dating back to the 12th century are still visible.
[Scroll left/right to view gallery]
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