Castelo dos Mouros

The Castelo dos Mouros follows the ridge above Sintra, its long walls threading through the forest from one granite peak to the next. Built during the Islamic period and taken by the first king of Portugal, it offers some of the widest views in the Sintra hills, from the palace below to the Atlantic.

A castle on the ridge

The fortress was built in the eighth and ninth centuries, during the Islamic period, to control the route between Sintra and the coast. It was taken by King Afonso Henriques in 1147, and later restored in the nineteenth century by King Ferdinand II, who planted the surrounding forest and gave the ruin its present romantic character.

What to see

• The walls and towers, with a walk along the ramparts.
• The chapel of São Pedro, a small Romanesque church within the walls.
• Views over the Palais de Pena, the town of Sintra and, on clear days, the sea.
• The surrounding forest, planted in the nineteenth century.

Visiting the castle

The castle is on the ridge between Sintra and the Pena Palace, and can be reached on foot or by bus. Opening hours and tickets are published by Parques de Sintra, so check the official website before your visit.

Visitor information: parquesdesintra.pt.

Image credit: Castelo dos Mouros, Sintra, by Jakub Halun, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.