An interesting historical symbol is the monastery of the Order of Christ. Its construction began in 1160. Currently, a unique huge old monastery is a landmark of world importance and is numbered among the world heritage of UNESCO. Its outward appearance resembles an ancient fortress. It was actually built as a fortification for warrior monks. Only later the huge stone building was converted into a monastery. The beautiful church of Sao Francisco is a bright architectural monument of the early 17th century. It was built by order of King Philip III. The facade of the church looks quite modest, but its interior design amazes with luxury. Gilding finishing elements, decorative painting, wonderfully carved columns, and arches have been preserved there. The old church of Santa Maria do Olival built in the 13th century has really fine features. This church looks quite miniature in comparison with other religious monuments. Despite numerous renovations, many of its original features have been preserved. The most beautiful item is a magnificent rosette window located above the main entrance. The statue of the Virgin Mary is the main value of the church. The statue was transferred there during the Middle Ages. The Nossa Señora da Conceisao chapel is located in the immediate vicinity of the city. It is an architectural monument of national importance. Although the chapel is quite small, 35 years have been spent on its construction and design. The primary function of the chapel was
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Interesting architectural landmarks and museums can also be found in Sintra, the main symbol of which is Palácio da Pena. The palace was built in 1939 on the ruins of a monastery and is well-known as the most romantic and elegant palace in Portugal. The palace was built in a way so it attached a remaining part of the monastery and a small chapel. The old part of the city is home to a very beautiful building - the Castelo dos Mouros (The Moors Castle), which was built 10 centuries ago. If one doesn't take into consideration massive protective walls, the building looks more like a castle from a fairy tale rather than an ancient fortress. The castle was empty for many years until it was restored in the 19th century. Nowadays, it's a very interesting open air museum.
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