Vila Sassetti

Vila Sassetti is a villa and garden on the hillside above Sintra's historic centre, and its main interest today is as a route. The slope between the town and the Pena Park is steep and wooded, and a path through the villa's grounds gives walkers a free and relatively quiet way up from the old centre toward the Moorish Castle and the Pena Palace, avoiding the busy road. The entrance is near the Praça Ferreira de Castro, a short distance from the main square of the town, and the gardens and trail are open to the public without charge during daytime hours.

The villa belongs to the romantic Sintra tradition of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when wealthy owners built houses with mixed European and Mediterranean styles on the hills around the town. It is built in an Italian-influenced manner, with a round tower in the Romanesque style associated with northern Italy and warm terracotta tones, and it stands within terraced gardens full of trees, ferns, and shaded paths. The building itself is mainly seen from the outside, and the main pleasure lies in the setting, with the tower rising among the trees and the town spread out below.

The path is a series of stone steps and shaded trails, climbing through the garden and the forest. It is steep in places, so it needs some effort, and the stone surfaces can be slippery when wet. In return it offers glimpses of the town's rooftops and the surrounding hills, and the cool, damp air under the trees, with moss, ferns, and the sound of water, creates a typical Sintra atmosphere. At the top the trail connects with the routes to the Moorish Castle and the park of Pena, so walkers can plan a one-way walk uphill and take the bus or taxi back down.

Getting to Sintra is easy by train from Lisbon, with services from stations such as Rossio, and from the station buses and a walk lead to the historic centre. Private cars are restricted in the old streets, so walking is the best choice. Bring good shoes, water, and a light jacket, since the hillside is often cooler and wetter than the town.

The gardens and trail suit walkers, photographers, and visitors who want to avoid the crowds. Allow an hour or two, depending on how far you walk, and combine the route with the nearby castle and palaces.