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Sites to See…Portuguese School of Equestrian Art, Queluz (Portugal)

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ILC-blog-Sites-to-See-School-of-Equestrian-Queluz-PortugalThe Portuguese School of Equestrian Art (Escola Portuguesa de Arte Equestre) was founded in 1979 and carries on the traditions that were part of the royal court equestrian academy (Real Picaria) from the 18th century that was closed in the 19th century. The school is based in the Gardens of the National Palace of Queluz, located just 20 minutes outside of Lisbon.

The school is considered one of the four principal riding academies in the world, along with the schools in Vienna (Austria), Jerez (Spain) and Saumur (France).  They feature Lusitano horses that are bred at the same farm that was established by King João in 1748, and the school preserves the traditional riding costumes, saddles and riding styles from the time of the royals.

Visitors to the Palace and Gardens can see a display with the horses and riders from the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art at 11.00 every Wednesday and Saturday. Daily training sessions, weekly presentations and galas performances are held at the Picadeiro Henrique Calado riding center located in Lisbon in the Belém neighborhood.

For more information on the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art at the National Palace in Queluz, click here.  For more information on performances at the Picadeiro Henrique Calado in Lisbon, click here.

Photo credit: © 2016 Parques de Sintra – Monte da Lua – All rights reserved.

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Next Stop…Arraiolos, Portugal

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Arraiolos is a charming town nestled in the hills of Portugal’s Alentejo region, located only 1 hour and 15 minutes from Lisbon. Driving through the open, rolling plains to Arraiolos makes for a great day trip for visitors who want to get out of the city and experience a traditional town in the country’s heartland.

The history of Arraiolos can be traced back to the 2nd C. BC, and the remains of the 14th C. castle and 16th C. church can still be visited today. But most visitors to Arraiolos come to visit the stores and workshops that sell the famous hand woven wool rugs that the town is best known for. The history of rug making in Arraiolos dates back to the 13th C., when it is believed that Moors introduced the craft of rug making to the local residents. The rugs continue to be completely hand made today by local women using a needlepoint stitch that is applied on a sturdy canvas. The original designs were inspired by traditional Persian rug designs, and over the years the styles have evolved to include figures and animals, as well as more contemporary designs. Don’t worry if you fall in love with one of the rugs, as local merchants can either fold the rug down to a manageable size, or ship it home to you to avoid the hassle of having to carry it back. For more information on the town, click here.

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Next Stop…Sintra (Portugal)

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Located just 30 minutes from Lisbon, the town of Sintra has long been a favorite destination for monarchs, poets, and visitors looking for a special place to get away.

Whether you visit as a day trip from Lisbon, or stay for a few days, you are sure to be captivated by the town that UNESCO designated as a World Heritage Site. This enchanting town boasts fairy tale palaces, incredible vistas, and a castle that was once the summer residence of the monarchs.

The centerpiece of Sintra is the Palácio Nacional de Pena, which was built in 1838. The colorful palace is perched high on a hilltop overlooking the city, and is considered one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. For more information on the Pena Palace, click here.

In addition to Sintra’s iconic palace, there’s much more to see, including:

  • Palácio Nacional de Sintra – the Sintra National Palace, also known as the Paço Real or Palácio da Vila, was originally built by the Moors and was expanded by King John I in the 15th C. and King Manuel I in the 16th C. Visitors can admire the extensive collection of Mudéjar tiles, and its twin chimney towers have become a symbol of the town. For more information, click here.
  • Castelo dos Mouros – the Castle of the Moors was built between the 8th and 9th centuries and winds over two ridges of the Serra de Sintra. For more information, click here.
  • Quinta da Regaleira – a beautiful country estate built between 1904-1910 by the wealthy nobleman, António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro. He commissioned the Italian set-designer and architect Luigi Manini to create a romantic palace and gardens on the outskirts of town. For more information, click here.
  • Parque e Palácio de Monserrate – an impressive park and estate that was the summer residence of a wealthy English merchant, Francis Cook. In the 1860s he transformed the ruins of a neo-Gothic palace using a combination of Gothic, Indian and Moorish influences, and surrounded it with lush botanical gardens. The palace is considered one of the most important examples of Romantic architecture in the country. For more information, click here.

Photo credit: Singa Hitam

As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.