Wednesday Walk - Terreiro da Rainha Dona Amélia, Sintra - Portugal

Last weekend, on Mother’s Day—which in Portugal is always celebrated on the first Sunday in May—I went with my mother for a little stroll in Sintra.
It is a town with its own unique beauty and magic. Bathed in light and tranquility, it is dotted with the hustle and bustle of tourists who wander through its narrow streets and climb the paths and trails through nature in the surrounding hills and forests.

Located right in the heart of one of Portugal’s most important and protected green areas, Sintra is a place that always offers visitors a magic and glamour all its own.

Needless to say, on this day—not only because it was Mother’s Day, but also because it was a Sunday with very pleasant and cool weather—the town center was packed with tourists.

I took the opportunity to have lunch with my mother at a restaurant that has been open and in operation since 1970, called “Apeadeiro.” And despite its very central location, just over 20 meters from the town’s train station, the prices are very reasonable, both for its location and for the quality of the traditional Portuguese cuisine it offers.

After lunch, I challenged my mom to go try one of the region’s traditional sweets. This sweet, called a “Sintra pillow,” is one of the hallmarks of the region’s convent-style pastries, and it piques the curiosity and whets the sweet tooth of anyone passing through who’s already familiar with it.

We went to the oldest shop that sells this type of sweet and sat down for a while at a table on the indoor terrace. The weather was pleasant, so I suggested to my mother that we head to a very picturesque square in the central, historic part of town—Terreiro da Rainha Dona Amélia—located across from the National Palace of Sintra.

We spent quite a while reminiscing about the good times we’ve had here, and on previous occasions in the company of those who are no longer with us.

Reminiscing is always good, and if memories bring smiles to our faces, it’s because they are good and very precious.

After spending some time enjoying the gentle breeze and the pleasant sunshine, we walked down Estrada da Macieira to Portela de Sintra, where we had parked the car. Along the way, we also had the opportunity to admire several sculptures by international and national artists, one of which particularly caught my interest because of its theme. A bronze sculpture depicting a mother comforting a baby boy on her lap, face down, as he observes his surroundings, delighted by the comfort and warmth of his mother’s embrace.

And how did you all spend Mother’s Day? In your country or region, is this day also celebrated around this time, or does it have a different specific or even fixed date?

I hope you enjoyed this little tour with me through the wonderful and breathtaking town of Sintra.
I hope to share more places that I’ll be revisiting soon, as the weather is perfect for it!

Have a great week, everyone!

Cheers🍀