Night Walk in Sintra
The Inquisition's Hand in Sintra
night walk
♦ NIGHT WALK IN SINTRA ♦
~ The Inquisition's Hand in Sintra ~
- History, accounts, and the processes that touch Sintra -
Organization and Historial Research:
Miguel Boim, O Caminheiro de Sintra ("Sintra's Wanderer")
author of the book Legendary Sintra - Legends and Stories of the Mountain of the Moon
::: www.miguelboim.com
::: rnaat 1808/2017
::: Available days for the night walks in Sintra: Mondays to Sundays - all subject to availability.
::: Starting time: between 19h30 and 20h15
::: Group size for this private activity: from just one to twelve people.
::: A cultural activity, in legal accordance to Nature Tourism.
::: Legal notice: rnaat 1808/2017
:::: Activity's off-the-grid level: 10/10
:::: Sintra's crowds avoidance: 10/10
::: No smoking; no noise; not advisable to pregnancy nor to heart conditions.
fauna of the Sintra Mountains: peregrine falcon, considered the fastest animal on Earth
A group of participants starting to roam to the last part of this night walk.
picture by Ricardo Reis
The old Royal Palace seen from the route of this night walk in Sintra.
picture by Frederico Almeida Santos
fauna of the Sintra Mountains: the barn owl
♦♦♦ Your host, Sintra's writer Miguel Boim, in some Portuguese TV shows:
➤ at RTP2
giving body to Mr. Sommer (Patrick Süskind's)
The reading of some excerpts from Mr Sommer, by Patrick Süskind (best known for The Perfume), in Literatura Aqui programme.
➤ at SIC
in the TV series "Boa Cama Boa Mesa"
A brief appearance on SIC's "Boa Cama Boa Mesa" programme, presented by Martim Cabral, and as always talking about the curious stories of the Sintra Mountains past.
➤ at TVI
in Jornal Nacional, at Sintra's Capuchos Convent
A brief appearance by Miguel Boim, O Caminheiro de Sintra, on TVI's Jornal Nacional, in a report that also involves the Convento dos Capuchos and its curious stories from the distant past.
A group in this Miguel Boim's night walk in Sintra.
picture by Maria João Marques
At the Sintra's old town, from the 14th century, when the Inquisition had other forms.
picture by Miguel Boim
♦♦♦ Important information:
. This night walk in Sintra will last around 3 hours (or less, if you require it beforehand), including stopping points, for which you should bring comfortable clothing and footwear.
. The distance is around 5 and a half kilometres (it can be shortened by removing the forest part). All you need is water and comfortable clothing and footwear. The pace will be the one that best suits you, with stops at which you can rest. These activities are designed to be done by almost anyone (including the most sedentary), with the exception of heart conditions and pregnancy.
. This is a private activity. The group is formed only by you and yours.
. We start at the old town (Sintra historic centre), walk around the village of Sintra, and afterwards going through the forest so you can taste a bit of the night atmosphere in the mountains (the forest bit can be removed so that the walk can be shortened). Along the route, there are stopping points where Miguel Boim will tell you stories from history related to the theme. The route has road and cobblestone parts, as well as some irregular terrain (easily done by people with no mobility limitations).
. Upon booking, you can suggest the start time (between 19h30 and 20h15) or ask advice, according to what you have scheduled for your day. When asking for advice, the suggested start time varies according to the season of the year and the sunset time. It can start before sunset, so you can still appreciate some interesting details in the old town.
. You will be lent a reflective vest (mandatory).
. If you have any questions, you can ask them by email or telephone. It is advisable to book as far in advance as possible (the month before is best, but you can try - with no guarantee of success - up to 15 days before).
. If you don't feel comfortable in the rain, you can postpone this night walk. If the activity has to be cancelled due to weather limitations (in Summer and Winter) or access limitations (imposed by the Civil Protection or other governmental authority), you will receive a refund, or we can reschedule for a later date if both parties are available.
. During the booking process, you will receive further information about data protection, your safety and the preservation of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park.
At the old town, a bas-relief from when the Inquisition was about to begin.
picture by Miguel Boim
A door in a church from the 12th century, having two mascarons that some people read as the good and the bad judges. Many Inquisition processes have this church as their stage.
picture by Miguel Boim
fauna of the Sintra Mountains: the tawny owl
♦♦♦ This tour has the seal Clean & Safe, issued by Turismo de Portugal.
► MEETING POINT:
The meeting point will be at the old town (Sintra historic centre) and you will receive more information (including maps and images of the meeting point) during the booking process.
► HOW TO MAKE A BOOKING:
Please send an email (caminheiro.de.sintra@gmail.com) with the following subject:
The Inquisition's Hand in Sintra - [YOUR PREFERRED DATE] - [NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS].
Payment will be done through Paypal (or if living in Portugal, other national mean of payment such as MBway), and you will have between three and seven days to make the payment and provide the information requested.
If you prefer, you can first ask as many questions as you like, so that you can feel comfortable (caminheiro.de.sintra@gmail.com), either you are alone, or with a group.
► PRICING:
Monday to Thursday // 1 to 4 people // 140€
Monday to Thursday // 5 to 8 people // 200€
Monday to Thursday // 9 to 12 people // 300€
~ ~ ~
Friday to Sunday // 1 to 4 people // 200€
Friday to Sunday // 5 to 8 people // 280€
Friday to Sunday // 9 to 12 people // 420€
You can go through the reviews in TripAdvisor here:
fauna of the Sintra Mountains: the genet
Seteais' triumphal arch, built when some people in Sintra were still being pursued by the Inquisition.
picture by Ricardo Reis
One of the tranquil pathways you will find on this calm night walk in Sintra.
picture by Frederico Almeida Santos
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♦♦♦ Synopsis:
In the region, all cases were directed to the court in Lisbon. But from Lisbon, what came back? And what was happening here, in the town of Sintra, while people anxiously awaited the autos-da-fé of the Kingdom's capital?
The trials, the stories, and the settings of the time shed light on a series of shadows born of fantasy, while also lifting the veil that hides in the past some stories whose reality, cloaked in imagination, manages to outshine any invention.
The habits, the customs, the accusations, and the tales are all wrapped in the nocturnal atmosphere of one of the places most suited to transporting the mind back in time.
On this night walk in Sintra you will be able to see the famous Quinta da Regaleira from the outside.
picture by Frederico Almeida Santos
One of the tranquil pathways that will lead you to more stages of the Inquisition's curious processes.
picture by Miguel Boim
your cicerone:
the author and researcher
Miguel Boim
Miguel Boim at the national tv channel SIC, in the tv series "Meia-Noite", aired on the night of the New Years Eve
100% dedicated to researching Sintra’s local history, Miguel Boim focuses on the human stories woven through the chronicles of Portugal’s former kingdom. Legends, customs, traditions, civil and religious laws, and mystical experiences within monasteries and convents are just some of the elements he sees as essential to understanding the “tree of life” that is Sintra’s past.
In addition to contributing numerous articles over the years to share the history - and stories from the history - of the Sintra Mountains, Miguel has co-authored various literary works and published his own, including the iconic Sintra Lendária, now in its seventh edition.
Living in the past, as he likes to say, Miguel claims that all his best friends are long dead - yet very much alive within the pages of old books and manuscripts. These "friends" have all the time in the world - both in this one and beyond - to tell him their stories of what once happened in the Sintra Mountains and who once wandered its valleys and hills.
Driven by a mission to share Sintra’s history in captivating yet well-researched formats - both written and spoken - Miguel has, in recent years, been involved in projects that have significantly broadened public awareness of the region’s historical richness.
Miguel Boim being received by the students of a Sintra council school
Although research is at the heart of his work, Miguel believes that history truly comes alive when it’s shared. Through night walks, storytelling sessions, and school visits, he brings the past into the present in ways that enchant and inspire. Whether he’s guiding adults through the forested trails of Sintra at night or captivating young students with tales of old, Miguel’s mission remains the same: to reconnect people with history by igniting their sense of wonder.
In one such project, supported by the Sintra City Council, he visits schools to share the legends and folk traditions woven into the region’s cultural heritage—an initiative that proves history, when told with heart, can still spark the imagination of a new generation.
Miguel Boim in the filming of the french documentary
Le Mont de la Lune
Recognition matters - not just from the public, but from the institutions that help preserve cultural memory. When Sintra Lendária was first released in 2015, the launch was held at the Grémio Literário de Lisboa, a venerable literary society founded in 1856, and was presented by Sintra’s mayor, Basílio Horta. It marked not only the publication of a book, but the public validation of a journey that had long been unfolding behind the scenes.
the presentation of the book Sintra Lendária, in the Grémio Literário, by Basílio Horta, Mayor of Sintra Municipality
Due to his deep knowledge of historical accounts by foreign travelers in Portugal, Miguel was invited to contribute a chapter to Mafra Sacra, a book published under the high patronage of the President of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. The book commemorates the 300th anniversary of the Palace and Convent of Mafra.
cover of Mafra Sacra, a book with the high patronage of the President of the Portuguese Republic
Miguel also served as historical consultant for the Sintra Myths and Legends Museum / Interactive Centre, contributing his expertise and earned public trust to the development of its content.
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the Sintra Myths and Legends Museum / Interactive Centre, in the old town
In 2015, before becoming a regular contributor to Jornal de Sintra, the oldest regional newspaper in Portugal, Miguel was interviewed about his early work and motivations. For almost ten years, he penned monthly columns that brought to light forgotten narratives and curious historical insights, steadily building bridges between Sintra’s past and present.
At the University of Évora, Miguel was invited to speak about the history of Sintra and the craft of writing both fiction and non-fiction. His audience: Literature bachelor's and master's degree students eager to understand how lived history and narrative technique can meet in a meaningful, respectful - and sometimes magical - way.
Miguel Boim giving a lecture at the University of Évora for
Literature bachelor's and master's degree students
fauna of the Sintra Mountains: the polecat
The old Royal Palace with the moon hovering above it.
picture by Miguel Boim
The Mountain of the Moon - with its Moorish Castle in sight - seen from the old town on a night when the full moon was beginning its path across the sky.
picture by Miguel Boim
♦♦♦ About these activities
These activities are born out of Miguel Boim’s extensive research into Sintra’s history - bringing to life the events that shaped Portugal, particularly those rooted in this mystical landscape.
The night walks aim to immerse participants in the nocturnal atmosphere of the Sintra Mountains, fostering awareness of its natural environment and offering a deeper connection to the historical events once lived and recorded here.
No outside elements will surprise you, nor is it intended to make people feel threatened or afraid. There are no theatrical scares or jump scares. On this visit, no species are presented, and viewing them at night is difficult. What you'll experience is the subtle movement of creatures, the sound of wind through the trees, and the sense of stepping into another time.
Participants on one of Miguel Boim's walks, at the end of a foggy day in the mountains.
picture by Paula Custódio
Miguel Boim during the filming of a documentary about the Sintra Mountains, which was to be presented (before the war) in Russia and Ukraine.
fauna of the Sintra Mountains: the hedgehog
Do you want more information?
Just continue scrolling down.
What to Expect from this Night Walk in Sintra
Why is this not a "ghost tour"?
Because every story you’ll hear is grounded in documented history. These aren’t tales that sprang up today from rumor or local superstition, but rather verified accounts - centuries old - found in books and manuscripts. You’ll also hear about the customs and behaviors from those eras, interpreted and explained with accuracy by Miguel Boim.
Do we enter any monuments?
No interior visits are included. However, you’ll enjoy unique nighttime views of the Castle and the Pena Palace from a distance. You will also walk around the village, thus observing other monuments and points of interest from the outside.
Can I ask about other aspects of Sintra’s history?
Absolutely. You’re encouraged to ask anything about Sintra - even beyond the night walk’s specific theme.
Books from the 16th and 18th century used by Miguel Boim in
his historical research on the Sintra Mountains - with the facts also used in the night walks in Sintra.
Would I learn these stories anywhere else?
Not in the same way. You’ll be given rare and curious insights known only to those who dedicate themselves to in-depth historical research. These will help you see Sintra with fresh, more accurate eyes.
Real People from the Past vs. Just Dates and Facts
Rather than a recital of dates, this is a tapestry of human experience. Instead of focusing solely on dates and kings, this activity emphasizes everyday life and how people experienced historical changes. Religious communities preserved some of the most vibrant stories - both spiritual and mundane - that still resonate today. These personal accounts often surprise with their relevance, humor, or strangeness - reminders that history, after all, is made of people.
You’ll hear about unique individuals, strange events, and how locals were perceived by foreign travelers. These accounts provide a rare glimpse into the differences between the Sintra of the past and the monuments you see today.
The Shadows and the Law
Understanding the law and power dynamics of the time is crucial. Who held power in Sintra in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries? What were the roles of the state, the Church, and the Inquisition? These questions reveal much about everyday life - including where people could go, what they could do, and what they feared.
Creating the Right Atmosphere for Time Travel
The ambiance is key. Silence, mist, wind in the trees: all become part of the narrative. Every walk is designed to create a space for contemplation and awe, where the environment itself tells part of the story. In this stillness, history doesn’t just inform. It breathes. These night walks are designed to allow you to experience Sintra’s magical atmosphere - far from the tourist buzz. With silence, the rustling trees, and flowing streams, you’ll get a real sense of what this place was and still is.
Your care and silence are also a form of environmental respect, helping preserve the mountains' fragile ecosystems.
It is advisable that this walk start at night, either in the Summer or in the Winter, so that the silence can be enjoyed. Fog may join the activity and with it, some of the most beautiful and haunting visuals Sintra has to offer.
What will happen?
On the Day of the Walk
This is a circular walking tour covering about five and a half kilometers - similar in effort to a full afternoon exploring the surroundings of the historical center. It follows mostly over flat terrain (having some irregular terrain) and lasts around 3 hours (or less if you require it beforehand), depending on the group and night. There will be several stopping points where you can rest.
You’ll start in the historic center, walk around the villages of Sintra and São Pedro, and then enter the forest, with opportunities to view in a distance major landmarks like the Moorish Castle, Pena Palace, the old Royal Palace, and others - both famous and lesser-known. Though no monuments are entered, those which are seen from afar offer views you won’t find on a map, but in memory.
Everything you will hear in this night walk is a product of Miguel Boim's everyday work as a historical researcher exclusively dedicated to Sintra's past (in the portuguese and european context). Miguel Boim himself will lead you, bringing the insight and passion of someone wholly immersed in Sintra’s past.
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People from Sintra, drawn in the year 1821.
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People from the 21st century listening to accounts of lives lived in Sintra centuries ago.
On Trust and Safety
This activity fully accomplishes what is required by law.
Participants must follow instructions given by the guide in the briefing as well as during the activity. Coordination is maintained with local authorities (hence, the need to book in advance) which patrol the mountains at night: the National Guard Republican (G.N.R.), security of Parques de Sintra Monte da Lua (in SUV or on foot), Portuguese Army (in SUV or on foot), Civil Protection (in SUV or on foot), ICNF - Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e Florestas (in SUV or on foot).
You may ask for general advice on safety related to rented vehicles (special attention in this regard) and possible pickpockets (during the day and in crowded places).
Code of Conduct
No smoking or disruptive noise.
Do not remove flora, fauna, or geological materials.
Stay with the group and notify the guide if you need to step away.
Safety
Personal information is required for insurance and to comply with Sintra-Cascais Natural Park regulations
Minimum age: 12
By booking this activity, you affirm that you're physically fit to walk between 200 and 470 meters above sea level for around three hours.
fauna of the Sintra Mountains: the buzzard
A falconer in a portuguese book from the 16th century.
For Your Comfort
Do not hesitate to ask questions before this night walk in Sintra as well as during this tour - transparency is key.
Proper footwear and clothing (you'll be advised on the best of both, according to the time of year and near-date weather conditions).
The start time and end times can be exact, but please note that the end time can be inaccurate - if not otherwise strictly required.
You can inquire about the best place to have your meals.
You can request information on how to avoid tourist crowds during the day in Sintra.
Cancellations and Refunds
Full refund for cancellations made at least 72 hours before the beginning of the activity.
After a cancellation, the refund is processed within 7 days.
In case of rain (if not heavy rain), the activity will be maintained; in case of warning (Aviso) or alert (Alerta) by the authorities (Civil Protection, ICNF), the activity will be cancelled, with the option to reschedule or receive a full refund.
fauna of the Sintra Mountains: the eagle-owl