This walk starts at the car park of the Peninha Sanctuary, in the heart of the Sintra mountains. We'll pass by the Peninha Sanctuary, walk through the enchanting woods of the surrounding valley and head towards Tholos do Monge, one of the highest points in the Serra de Sintra. We'll use various trails and green paths, among scenery of great and authentic mountain beauty, and then we'll reach our starting point. Another event not to be missed!

Peninha Sanctuary:

Here we can see rocks that make up the Sintra Magmatic Massif. This massif was formed around 80 Ma ago at great depths, and the dominant rock is granite.

In the Serra de Sintra it is possible to see landscapes in which chaotic heaps of huge rounded blocks of rock stand out, constituting what is known as "block chaos". These rocks are essentially granite and syenitic in composition, and the Peninha buildings were built on top of one of these syenitic rock piles. The Peninha Sanctuary is part of an architectural complex formed by the old chapel of St Saturninus (founded by D. Pêro Pais at the time of the kingdom's formation of Portugal and now abandoned) and the romantic revival-style palace, which resembles a fortification, built in 1918.

The present chapel dates back to the 17th century and was founded by Friar Pedro da Conceição. The panelling that covers the interior of the chapel depicts scenes from the Life of the Virgin and was made by different authors. The monumental panels in the body of the nave have been attributed to Manuel dos Santos.

Also by him are the two panels flanking the main door and the semi-circular tympanum, the latter depicting Pentecost. The chancel, dating from 1690, is covered in marble in different colours, which extends to the coffered vault. The altarpiece, also made of fine marble inlays, is attributed to João Antunes, as it is very similar to so many others designed by Pedro II's architect.

Monk's Tholos:

This is a mass grave built in the Chalcolithic period (2500/1500 BC) and reused in the Bronze Age (1800/800 BC). The grave, orientated to the north, takes advantage of a natural depression in the granite.

- Sintra Woods - Peninha Sanctuary - Picnic Park - Romeiros Fountain - Calhau dos Corvos - Pedras Irmãs Fountain - Views of Cabo da Roca and the Atlantic coast - Tholos do Monge - Natural landscapes -