Sintra is a Portuguese villa of the District of Lisbon, region of Lisbon and subregion of Great Lisbon, with near 9 300 inhabitants.
She is host of a municipality with 316.06 km ² of area and 363 749 inhabitants (2001), subdivided in 20 freguesias. The municipality limits the north com the municipality of Mafra, to the east with Loures, the Southeastern with Amadora, the south with Oeiras and Cascais and to the west with the Atlantic Ocean.
The Natural Park was created in 1994. In addition to the Mountain range of Sintra and Colares, it reaches the coast of the ends Flat and Gives Rock, also being protected the urbanized zone more next to Cascais. The sweet microclimate of these coastal mountains, together with the fertility of the ground, propitious the acclimatization of exotic species, plants in romantic parks and gardens. In this way, next to brown, oaks, oaks, cork oaks and madroños, without forgetting the ample spots tame pine, coexist secuoyas, yours and firs.
The park has the particularitity to be near the great capital of Lisbon and to conserve intact its natural essence, coexisting jointly the Nature and the urbanized tourist zones. In all his extension, it presents/displays a great variety of atmospheres and landscapes, including dunes, florestas, lagoons and a coastal line of unusual beauty.
On the other hand, the Mountain range of Sintra forms the central nucleus of the Natural Park, and have been recognized its exceptional peculiarities anywhere in the world, being considered like Cultural Landscape Patrimony of the Humanity. For that reason, in addition to the architectonic relic of the city of Sintra, the Mountain range is a monument in itself. One feels that this mountain is magician. It discovers the visitor to it and they have perceived it throughout history all the inhabitants of the zone. This magical attraction of the Mountain range contributed to that outside denominated Mount of the Moon, doing reference to the powerful influences of the stars.