Located on one of the hilltops of the Serra de Sintra, the Moorish Castle is a fortress built in around the 10th century after the Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula.

All along the paths encircling the castle, you can admire spectacular views over a unique landscape, with the town centre, the Palace of Sintra, the Palace of Pena and, stretching out beyond these, the vast plains to the north and the Atlantic Ocean.

The present-day appearance of the Moorish Castle is the result of various building campaigns and events, most notably the work that was undertaken during the first dynasty, initiated by King Afonso Henriques after the capture of Lisbon and Santarém (1147) and continuing until the fortress was put to use in the reign of King Fernando I (1383); the damage caused by the earthquake of 1755; the restoration work carried out by King Ferdinand II in the 19th century, in the romantic style of that period; and the various interventions made by the General Directorate for Buildings and National Monuments in the 20th century.

The Moorish Castle is a fine point from which to admire the view from Sintra to the sea.

OPENING HOURS

OPENING TIMES UNTIL THE 28TH OCTOBER
09h30 – 20h00, last ticket 19h00

Source: Sintra Romântica / Parques de Sintra