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Birthday Trip to Sintra

Trip by Matthew Walters

Trip info

Sintra, Portugal/ May 23rd 2009 / 5 days

Just returned from a fabulous trip to Sintra, bought for me as a birthday surprise - I love photography and architecture, so this trip enabled me to mix both together.

We stayed at the 5-star Lawrences Hotel (www.lawrenceshotel.com/) - and what a super place it is, too. Built in an 18th century manor house, with stripped wooden floor, shutters on the windows and open fires in the rooms. The room was sizeable - a suite - and comfortable, the bath even had a jacuzzi - great after a long walk to the Moorish Castle. Apparently, Lord Byron stayed in the building in 1809.

Food at the hotel was excellent (if a bit pricey) - we also ate at the Cafe De Paris in town which has similar levels of service but the food didn't seem as good. The hotel has a good value afternoon menu, with a decent burger costing about €6 - similar prices at the other restaurants in the town again didn't meet the standard I felt we had at the Lawrence's.

Sintra is a town of contrasts - high quality restaurants vie for space with terrace cafes and coffe shops, typical 'tourist' souvenir shops rub shoulders with boutique clothing stores and jewellers selling Breitling watches.

As a town, it also suffers the age old paradox of restoration/renewal. Sintra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of the palaces and historic architecture, but this means that it is increasingly expensive for people to buy and restore properties to a suitable standard. unfortunately this means there are many fine old manor house that appear to be going to ruin.

For anybody touring Portugal, it is well worth spending a good day or so in the vicinity so that you don't feel the need to rush between all the sites.

Photos (11)