When most travellers behold the misty, coastal rises of the verdant Serra de Sintra, they see why so many ancient myths and legends have coalesced in this corner of western Portugal. For centuries it’s been a place of haunted hilltop castles, vast and undiscovered underground cities and ghostly, godly inhabitants, hailed by the Romans as the hunting ground of the mythological Diana.
After the Romans came the Moors, who stamped their mark on the high hills of the Serra de Sintra with the iconic bulwarks, battlements and turrets of the formidable Castelo dos Mouros, in Santa Maria e Sao Miguel—an undisputed must see of the region. Then came the imperial Portuguese, leaving hidden gems amidst the hills, like the vine-clad Convent of the Capuchos or the soaring Shrine of Peninha near the sea.
The area is a haven for hikers and outdoorsy types too, and anyone interested in exploring the really wild side of this westernmost European range, should be sure to ask their Serra de Sintra tour guide for tips on the walking trails and ridge routes that cut inward from the coast.