The heart of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Parque
The Sintra Mountains lie at the heart of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. They are part of the only area in the world to be classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site both for their cultural interest and their natural beauty. The town of Sintra is of rare historical and architectural importance. The hills are a monument in their own right.
Even today, we sense the magic of Sintra Mountain, as the local people have for thousands of years. They used to call it the Mountain of the Moon, a name that conjures up supernatural forces. In fact, there is nothing mysterious about the natural magnetic properties of the mountain.
There are massive deposits of iron ore inside the mountain, and it is awe-inspiring to go into a cave and to see your watch stop, or to turn off the car engine at a particular point on the road and feel the car being pulled up-hill!