João Xavier

Gleba Telheiras has undergone a recent total renewal and has now a dinning room, adding a brunch/afternoon break function to the bakery.
So now, besides the traditional bread they have become famous for, there is a wider range of products, from sandwiches and toasts, pastry options, and some other local products as alternative butters and teas.

The bakery still works as before, with their regular bread options and a daily variation, announced weekly. My favorites so far were the rosemary and the pear and chocolate. Beware that they use milk chocolate, for those who are dairy intolerant, though.

Bread have a long fermentation process, and use olive oil, and both are felt in their bread's particular taste. But i like both the taste of olive oil and its more acidic flavour. I find that it also stores better than industrial breads.

The big bread loafs may be sold in half or whole loafs. I usually order halves as that's plenty for the week.

Besides bread, they also sell other local products, such as teas, coffees, cookies, dried fruit, etc...

The prices are towards the expensive, but the experience is elevated. Things are kept simple, almost minimal. Food is carefully prepared. The dinning room doesn't have music, which is a blessing as every other place seems to think they are incomplete if they don't have a fast speed loud music going on (there is the as sound of the coffee making and the people talking already). People speak low, the room isn't big. There are plants (real one's).

One may order to go. Also, note that this shop is cashless, and accepts cards only!

Service is helpful and friendly.

Also, there are a few steps around the store, which might make it difficult for wheelchair access.

The gardens surrounding the Pena Palace were planted as the Palace was being built. It houses several exotic species and follows a wild, naturalistic layout, with several follies like lakes, creeks and bridges partially hidden within the dense vegetation, following the romantic taste of the time. It blends naturally with the woods of the hills of Sintra.

The temperature of the gardens is lower than in its surroungs, making it comfortable during hot summer days, but calls for a warmer garment during winter.

The exuberant vegetation is magical and calls for a slow stroll around its sinuous paths.

Beautiful building with small arched windows and a concrete plaster finish.

Designed by the Arab Engineering Consultants (?) in the 80s, the building has a rough concrete plaster finish, blending modernism with contextual architecture.

Sculpture "Maternity", by Botero.

Beautiful garden, right at the heart of Lumiar. It has two cafés serving drinks and quick meals. There is a dog park, and children playground, along with several abandoned farming structures (water tanks, etc.)

The garden is the result of the joining of the grounds of two villas, fact that is apparent in the name - Lilases and Conchas. A wall between the two was kept for the most part. The two properties werejoined in the late 19c by owner Francisco Mantero and are now under the City Hall management.

Quinta dos Lilases has a lake with two artificial islands representing S. Tomé e Príncipe, where the fortune of the owner Francisco Mantero had been made. Lilases' space is more uniformly covered with trees and is crisscrossed by paths.

Quinta das Conchas reminds of an "english landscape" garden, with a big central lawn, a lake, clusters of trees here and there and a wood area (a "mata"). In it, the ruin of a tower is said to have been the residence of Mantero's wife, "emprisoned" in her last years, gone mad, and forever haunting the place.

The big open lawn is stage for ball games and family gatherings and is very lively. Open air cultural venues (cinema, jazz festivals) are held in the park specially in the summer, and also a local farm's market.

The park is served by buses and subway (Quinta das Conchas station) and several different entrances.

Beware of opening times (not all gates have the same schedule though) -- winter: 6-20h, summer: 6-22h.