Historical information:
Sintra lies very near (7 km) and is of great historical value, Lord Byron loved the place, calling it “Glorious Eden”. Sintra was declared by Unesco a world heritage site; the most typical village from the Royal family history. You can find the fantastic Toy Museum in Sintra old town, many lovely restaurants and handy craft shops, only at 15 min. drive. You can see Sintra by horse-drawn carriages which will take you around the town as well as Sintra's mountains. You can see in the ridge of Sintra mountains historic monuments like Moorish Castle, Monastery of Capuchos, Monserrate Palace, National Palace, Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, Seteais Palace, Peninha Chapel, etc.
There are also fabulous botanical gardens and parks. Cabo da Roca is at approx. 17 km from the Villa and is the most western point on the European continent, defined by the poet Camões as “where the land ends and the sea begins”. Here visitors can buy an attractive certificate showing they have been there.
Beaches:
The beaches Praia das Maças and Praia Grande (where every year during summer the world championship of (bodyboard)surfing is held) are at approx. 2 km. Praia das Maças has several restaurants with excellent food, cafés, bars, discotheques as well as shops selling local crafts and a swimming-pool with sea water. At approx. 2 km from the Quinta you can take the tram to go to either Praia das Maças or to Sintra in the summer months.
There are also other beaches near, such as Adraga, which was nominated Europe’s most beautiful beach in 2003. Adraga can be reached via the village of Almoçageme, which deserves a mention because of its caves on the southern side, with both mountain and beach scenery. Other wonderful beaches are: Azenhas do Mar, a village built on the rocks (small and wonderful), at approx. 4 km, Aguda (small and quite), Magoito (plenty of facilities) and at 10km the Guincho beach, where the World Windsurf championship is held every year.
Other info:
At 1 km you will find the village Colares, a demarcated wine-growing region, famous for its excellent wine, which can be tasted at “Adega Regional de Colares”.
At approx. 30 km from Quinta do Floral lies Lisbon, where you can find great historical monuments, theatres, cinemas, the 'Parque das Nações (themepark) where the Expo 98 was held, shopping areas, the oceanarium, zoo and typical restaurants where you can taste the excellent traditional Portuguese cooking, for instance in Bairro Alto, where you can also listen to the famous “Fado” which is the daily expression of the local people.
Golf:
There are several golf courses near the villa : Penha Longa Golf, only 15 min. drive; Quinta da Marinha Golf : 20 min. drive ; Beloura Golf : 20 min.; drive Estoril Golf : 30 min. drive; Belas Golf : 25 min. drive. And many others at only a half hour drive. If you prefer to play golf in Praia d'el Rey Golf (one of the best golf courses in Europe) it is only at a 90 min. drive by motorway.
There is a (small) golf course at approx. 4 km, at the village Galamares.
