Ranholas, Sintra

Description and Specifications

With 6 bedrooms, swimming pool, ample garden, Jacuzzi outside, games room, etc…the villa boasts living rooms with large terraces which are totally private and have stunning views. This is a very quiet location and the perfect choice for a buyer looking for the ideal country setting with tremendous views but also the proximity of urban centres for work and culture.

Celts have roamed this terrain, having left monuments of cromlechs and menhirs at various sites around the city. The Romans called this area “The Mountain of the Moon.” Then in the 8th to 9th Century, the Arab Moors built a castle here. During Medieval times, the Portuguese royal family, overflowing with the pomp and riches from their colonial triumphs abroad, first came here to escape the heat of the summer in Lisbon. Beginning in the 14th century, the Portuguese aristocrats followed the royals to escape the crowds in the neighbouring Lisbon beaches. Here they built impressive estates, called “quintas” (the name is derived since by law, a fifth of the land belonged to the king of Portugal.)

In the 1840’s, Ferdinand de Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, the Austrian husband of Portuguese Queen Maria II, built an immense, almost fairytale castle, the Pena Palace, combining all the luxurious elements of previous ornate and gothic masterpieces. Many fabulous homes and palaces have been built since then, including the wonderful gardens and palace of Monsseratte amongst others.

Sintra now classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO retains all its old world charm and romantic essence. Enjoying a luscious and unique microclimate where orchids thrive and stupendous gardens abound. The recent restoration of Sintra’s glorious past has brought 21st century transport connections, meaning that the beaches of Cascais and Estoril are only minutes away, the numerous golf courses in the immediate area less than 10 minutes drive and Lisbon Airport only 25 minutes by car. The experience of living in Sintra is to become surrounded by Portugal’s rich cultural heritage, to follow in the footsteps of royalty from days gone by.