An Amazing Royal Destination: The Town Hall of Sintra, Portugal

Town Hall of Sintra, Porugal, own picture

The hilly and slightly cooler climate of Sintra attracted many nobles
in the 19th century to build their houses there. One of the most important
families was of course the royal family of Portugal which were mostly members
of the House of Braganza and later of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

The 19th century was a decade full of changing. The official opening of the
Lisbon-Sintra railway line in 1889 had a major effect on Sintra. It led to the
building of a new district which was called Estefânia in honour of
Queen Stephanie of Hohenzolleren-Sigmaringen, wife of
King Pedro V of Portugal.

Queen Stephanie of Hohenzolleren was the sister of inter alia Princess Marie
of Hohenzolleren-Sigmaringen, countess of Flanders. Princess Marie was the
mother of King Albert I of Belgium. 

Pedro V and his wife

Source picture: Wikipedia

A place was chosen for the construction of the new Municipal Offices in
Sintra. Finally it was built between two districts the older Villa Velha and
the new one: Estefânia.

The building works of the Town Hall began in 1906, it was designed by
Adães Bermudes and completed in 1909.

The Town Hall had austere facades with neo-Manueline windows. The facade
also contains an imposing battlement topped tower and a pyramidal tile covering
which represented the Cross of Crist and the Portuguese Shield.

Town Hall of Sintra, Portugal - own picture 

Sintra and its Town Hall are easily reachable by train from Lisbon. This amazing
Town Hall which looked like another castle is located not far from the
railway station of Sintra.

State visit

Between 26 and 31 July 1959 Emperor Haile Selassie from Ethiopia visited
Portugal. He and his delegation made a stop in Sintra.

Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia till 1974

Source picture: Wikipedia