Private Night Walk: Sintra, Apparitions and Stories From the Mountains

Early in the night we will meet at Sintra's Historic Centre, where this unique opportunity of hearing the true backgroud of mysticism involving Sintra begins, through the words of Sintra's foremost history researcher, Miguel Boim, with the additional advantage of visiting a tourist spot like Sintra away from the usual crowds.

After being introduced to what legends and myths are and their impact in the village through time, we'll begin our way across the mountain (by road and having very short trails) in the dark of the night.

With the stars hanging above us, the nocturnal landscape will be broken by the sight of a few monuments in the distance (National Palace, Pena Palace, among others), as well as some peculiar sites whose past specifics, and what they enclose, would elude a regular guide. Also, you will know how these impacted the traditions and way of thinking of the local people - especially the ancient ones.

From the highest parts of the mountain, whose silence a tourist will find uncommon, you'll hear about some of the strange memoirs that history left us in the documents and manuscripts from past centuries.

The walk (about 6 kilometers, spanning around 4 hours) has the singularity of being titled "Sintra, Apparitions and Stories From the Mountains".

The terrain is a regular one (often times through dark roads) and the effort implied is very similar to spending a whole afternoon strolling around Sintra, with its ups and downs.

And the questions will emerge to you: why are some things like they are here in Sintra, their disposition, their asymmetry; how have they come to be like this and which explanations most people come up with; in the past, what was already abandoned, causing then fear to visit. Not many centuries ago, you would have travelled in a carriage from Lisbon through a very hard, harsh and narrow road, desert-like, with mountains and windmills in the distance, and your coachman would stop midway, after almost two hours of driving. The reason for that will be known be you. However, as soon as one arrived at the Village, you would notice an important building, abandoned, visited by none due to its fame. This is just an image of a past gateway to Sintra, though there are thousands of them when you look to the past with the proper historical filter acquired in endless pages of memories, documentation and descriptions from the past.


⭐ Highlights
+ Be amazed by the unusual stories from Sintra's History through the words of its foremost researcher and storyteller
+ Admire the night landscapes from Sintra Mountains
+ Discover why Sintra Mountains have a unique mysticism nowadays, as well as in the past
+ Feel Sintra in the silence of the night
+ Be accompanied by the sensibility, the eyes and the words of Miguel Boim, writer and Historian, author of "Sintra Lendária" (on its 2nd edition) - lectures and speeches on Sintra's history to more than 12K people (as to 2018 data)
+ You may feel at will to ask any question you may have related to Sintra's History and Heritage

✔ Included
+ You'll be provided with a safety vest, so you can be safe and visible in the dark of the night.


❌ Not Included
- Inside access to the monuments is not part of the programme.

⚠ Know Before You Book
.Booking needed until 72h prior to the desired date, in accordance to the Natural Parks legislation and mandatory reporting to authorities.

.Minimum age: 14.
.This walk is not recommended for people with limited mobility, cardiac conditions, or pregnant women.

.No smoking allowed.
.Since it is in the mountains you will find ups and downs (in regular terrain) in the route.
.The terrain will be irregular in some parts, but nothing a person with no movement impairment can't handle.
.The walk has about 6 kilometres in around 4 hours (circular route; 4 hours including stoppings at specifical points).
.This walk will take place between 20h00 and 01h00.
.This walk will occur under almost all weather conditions (being the exception the ones that may imply any risks for the participants or warnings from the Civil Protection) so please have the proper clothing and footwear (no need to be technical equipment for hiking).


‼ Know Before You Go
.Please be at the meeting point at 20h00.
.You will need comfortable footwear (the same you would use to stroll around in a touristic place for a whole afternoon) and clothes that can be suitable for cold but that you can easily remove them if you feel hot.
.Each element of your group must have their ID with them.
.Make sure everyone in your group has their individual bottle of water.


📍 Meeting Point
The meeting point will in front of Sintra National Palace (the one with the two big conical chimneys), at Largo Rainha Dona Amélia, 2710-616 Sintra, Portugal. Facing the main façade of the Sintra National Palace you will see, in front of the arches and the fountain, a large staircase; to your left you will see a smaller staircase. Miguel Boim will be at the smaller staircase waiting for you (you can recognize him by the bearded face in the logo).