CASTELO DOS MOUROS

One of Portugal’s most treasured buildings, the Moorish Castle in Sintra is not only a majestic site, but it has played an important part in the country’s military history. Founded in the 10th century, its walls snake around the hills that surround it, and would keep those inside safe from attack. They also acted as a barrier, protecting the maritime access to the city of Lisbon.

The Moors lived there until 1147, when Sintra was handed over to Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal, following his conquest of the cities of Lisbon and Santarém. The Muslim population was surrendered to the Christian forces, and eventually, the Islamic Quarter disappeared and gave way to a medieval village which was occupied until the 15th century. This village was part of the Church of São Pedro de Canaferrim, built between the two belts of walls.

The castle has been the subject of archaeological excavations since the 1970s, which has led to numerous discoveries about the history of the place and the people who lived there. UNESCO classified the Cultural Landscape of Sintra as a World Heritage Site in 1995, of which the beautiful and traditional Moorish Castle is a fundamental element.

DOLMEN-CHAPEL OF SÃO BRISSOS

This unusual little chapel, dating from the 17th century, looks more like a medieval stone hut than a chapel. Located in the village of São Brissos in the municipality of Montemor-o-Novo, it is situated at the end of a dirt track and surrounded by countryside. Dolmens are best described as sacred monuments made of standing stones topped off with a roof stone and they appear throughout Western Europe. The Anta-Chapel incorporates three of the original pillars, as well as part of the original roof of the chamber, and the small building has been classified as a National Monument since 1910.

Meanwhile, in the Alentejo, in the municipality of Évora, you’ll find the Portuguese equivalent of Stonehenge – The Cromlech of the Almendres. Here, a number of life-sized oval shaped stones are arranged in the earth in such a way that they are aligned to the heavens. The construction of these stones is believed to date back to the 6th millennium BC but they laid undiscovered until 1966 when Henrique Leonor Pina, who was carrying out field work relating to the country’s geological charts, came across them. But anyone wishing to visit the “Portuguese Stonehenge” should be warned that they are situated far off the beaten track where there is no public transport.

SORTELHA, GUARDA

One of Portugal’s oldest villages, the hamlet of Sortelha in Guarda is surrounded by a reconstructed medieval fortress. Situated strategically on top of a rocky hill, it is the oldest one linked to the strongholds that were used to defend the border east of Guarda and Covilhã. Today, visitors can enjoy a leisurely walk around the walls taking in the many houses that make up the neighbourhood. The old stone castle sits at the very top of the village with the area beneath it mainly untouched and unspoiled. Located in Concelho do Sebugal in the Beira Alta province, Sortelha sits between the famous Serra da Estrela and the Reserva Natural da Serra da Malcata. The rustic stone houses have been restored and now act as holiday homes for tourists. The 13th-century castle is Sortelha’s main attraction, dating back to the reign of King Sancho II, the successor of King Sancho, who repopulated the town in the 12th century. Visitors are encouraged to choose a pair of comfortable shoes and climb up to the tower for breathtaking views of Sortelha and its surrounding fields and wind turbines.

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