Cultural Landscape of Sintra, Portugal

Sintra is a major tourist destination in Portugal, famed for its picturesqueness and for its numerous historic palaces and castles. In the 19th century Sintra became the first centre of European Romantic architecture. Around 1840, king Ferdinand II turned a ruined monastery into a castle in which Gothic, Egyptian, Moorish and Renaissance elements were displayed. Among newer sights there is also the Moorish Castle, might be of Visigothic origin. It was certainly used in the 9th century, during the Moorish occupation.

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Visby Cathedral

Visby Cathedral (also known as St. Mary’s Church) is the only survived medieval church in Visby. It was originally built for German merchants and inaugurated in 1225. Around the year 1350 the church was enlarged and converted into a basilica. The two-storey magazine was also added then above the nave as a warehouse for merchants.

Following the Reformation, the church was transformed into a parish church for the town of Visby. All other churches were abandoned. Shortly after the Reformation, in 1572, Gotland was made into its own Diocese, and the church designated its cathedral.

There is not much left of the original interior. The font is made of local red marble in the 13th century. The pulpit was made in Lübeck in 1684. There are 400 graves under the church floor.