Sintra
Sintra (/ˈsɪntrə, ˈsiːntrə/, Portuguese: [ˈsĩtɾɐ] ⓘ) is a town and municipality in the Greater Lisbon region of Portugal, located on the Portuguese Riviera. The population of the municipality in 2021 was 385,654, in an area of 319.23 square kilometres (123.26 sq mi). Sintra is one of the most urbanized and densely populated municipalities of Portugal. A major tourist destination famed for its picturesqueness, the municipality has several historic palaces, castles, scenic beaches, parks and gardens.
Sintra | |
|---|---|
Clockwise: Pena National Palace; Azenhas do Mar; Quinta da Regaleira; Seteais Palace; Praia da Ursa; Monserrate Palace. | |
|
Flag Coat of arms | |
| Coordinates: 38°47′57″N 9°23′18″W | |
| Country | Portugal |
| Region | Lisbon |
| Metropolitan area | Lisbon |
| District | Lisbon |
| Parishes | 11 (list) |
| Government | |
| • President | Basílio Horta (PS) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 319.23 km2 (123.26 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 175 m (574 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 377,835 |
| • Density | 1,200/km2 (3,100/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC±00:00 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+01:00 (WEST) |
| Postal code | 2714 |
| Area code | 219 |
| Patron | São Pedro |
| Website | http://www.cm-sintra.pt |
| Official name | Cultural Landscape of Sintra |
| Criteria | Cultural: ii, iv, v |
| Reference | 723 |
| Inscription | 1995 (19th Session) |
| Area | 946 ha |
The area includes the Sintra-Cascais Nature Park through which the Sintra Mountains run. The historic center of the Vila de Sintra is famous for its 19th-century Romanticist architecture, historic estates and villas, gardens, and royal palaces and castles, which resulted in the classification of the town as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sintra's landmarks include the medieval Castle of the Moors, the romanticist Pena National Palace and the Portuguese Renaissance Sintra National Palace.
Sintra is one of the wealthiest municipalities in both Portugal and the Iberian Peninsula as a whole. It is home to one of the largest foreign expatriate communities along the Portuguese Riviera and consistently ranks as one of the best places to live in Portugal.
The ECB Forum on Central Banking, an annual event organised by the European Central Bank, is held in Sintra.