Sintra hills Route

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Sintra-Cascais Nature Park is a privileged area for tourism and leisure, due to the amenity of the climate, diversity and beauty of the landscape. A mysterious place, the Sintra mountain range stands out from the surrounding sedimentary platforms and constitutes a natural barrier against sea winds, allowing the development of diversified vegetation. Regarding fauna, flora and geomorphology, it stands out the volcanic outcrop of Sintra hills on lands of basaltic, granite and limestone origin where numerous tree and shrub species grow, representing primitive flora, such as Portuguese oak, Kermes Oak and the very characteristic Armeria pseudarmeria, endemic of the Portuguese flora. In terms of fauna there are the Wild Rabbit, the Red Fox, the Lesser Kestrel, the Badger, the Weasel, the Montpellier Snake and dozens of bird species, among which are a few rare examples of Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata) and Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus). Along the way, by N247 and N 375, you can visit some important geological elements, such as the Cape of Roca and Boca do Inferno, a geological accident in a karren field, corresponding to a huge cave whose roof collapsed due to the waves erosive force and the dissolution of the limestones from rainwater. Also visit some unique elements, such as the volcanic chimney on Guincho beach, the Guincho-Oitavos dune system (a parabolic dune wind corridor) and the consolidated dune of Oitavos. The route also passes by the Colares river, dominated by the depression where the sinuous stream marks its route towards the sea. The area between Almoçageme and Maçãs beach, considered the "house of Colares vineyard", has undergone several changes. Particularly noteworthy are the São Mamede de Janas Chapel, the dinosaur footprints trail, the old line of the tram between Sintra and Maçãs beach and the Fojo da Adraga (resulting from the dismantling of the volcanic rocks intruded in the calcareous GPS: 38.800615, -9.487870). The mountains of Sintra and the village of the same name are, of course, dominant in this route. On your return to Lisbon, you can also visit the palace and the matinha of Queluz.