The Castle of the Moors is a hilltop medieval castle located in the central Portuguese civil parish of Santa Maria e São Miguel, in the municipality of Sintra, about 25 km (16 mi) northwest of Lisbon. Built by the Moors in the 8th and 9th centuries, it was an important strategic point during the Reconquista, and was taken by Christian forces after the fall of Lisbon in 1147. It is classified as a National Monument, part of the Sintra Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The north-facing wall of the Castle of the Moors, perched on top of the Sintra Mountains, showing the rectangular towers, including the Royal Tower (top left)
The Moorish Castle in the fog, overlooking the historic town of Sintra
Part of the reconstructed wall viewed from the bottom.
Panoramic view from atop a castle wall in 2019, showing the highest point of the castle in the distance right of center, and Sintra in the valley below
Sintra 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.
Image: Sintra Palacio da Pena (20332995770) (cropped 2)
Image: Palacio de Monserrate (7730029906)
Image: Azenhas do Mar
Image: Praia da Ursa, Portugal (4092828417)
