Christmas Season Activities!

As Portugal is deep in the crisis, one cannot help but wonder what that will do for tourism and for Christmas season.  Like many other cities, to save money, Sintra has opted to have no public Christmas lights in the streets. This does not mean, however, that there is no Christmas animation - quite the contrary!  The shops all have their own window displays, and some of them are quite creative, I might add!
And there are MANY concerts and programs happening, some free, some paid, some in Sintra, some in Lisbon.  Some are for children, some for families, some more for the grown folks. In this blog I will basically just list the events, and add links to sites with more information.

I will start with Sintra.
Parques de Sintra have programs for the whole family!
Natal Saloio (Country Christmas) on December 4th at Monserrate
Natal Real (Royal Christmas) on December 11th at Pena Palace
Natal Franciscana (Franciscan Christmas) on December 18th at the Capuchos Convent.
In addition there are creative workshops on candel making and a musical theater Pinocchio!
For more information, see www.parquesdesintra.pt (clique on the green dates of the agenda on the right of the homepage)

As Christmas is for families, there is a Christmas Land set up in the library's garden with Santa's house and elves, a small market and various events.  It is open 8-11/12 (13h-18h); 12-16/12 (10h-12h30 and 14h30-17h30) and the 17, 18, 22 and 23 /12 (13h - 18h).

Also, there are the traditional Christmas Concerts in the local churches, still the 11th of  December at 16h at the church of São João das Lampas and 18h at the church of Queluz. On the 17th, the concert is in São Miguel - the church next to Olga Cadaval Cultural Center -with the famous Rão Kyao - and the last concert is in our Historical Center, São Martinho, on the 6th of January with the Chamber orchestra and the Opera Group of Sintra.  http://www.cm-sintra.pt/NoticiaDisplay.aspx?ID=6406

Also not to miss is the Sleeping Beauty Balet, performed at the Olga Cadaval Cultural Center on the 9th of December by the Russian Classical Ballet Company. More information from  http://www.ccolgacadaval.pt/

Great news are the discounts that we have with the local horse and carriage company Sintratur!  As always, we offer discounts of 5 and 10 euros off their trips, and this special Winter Season special there is a great deal: An hour and a half Jingle Bell Ride in the Sintra countryside for  55 euros instead of 70, hot chocolate and cookies included! Advanced booking is necessary for this ride, price is per carriage, upto 4 people.  More information from www.sintratur.com.


Lisbon is about 30 kms away and there is a lot happening! This is really just a list:

Cirque du Soleil show 'Allegria' 21/12 - 8/1 at the Atlantic Pavillion  near the staion Oriente
Grand Strauss Gala 23 - 30/12 at the Tivoli Theater
Russian Army dance and choir performance 27&28/12 at the Tivoli Theater
Cambio de Tercio - Nuevo Ballet Español 1-11/12 Casino de Lisboa
Romeo and Juliet 10, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22/12 at the São Carlos Theater
Alabama Gospel Choir 29/12 at the Tivoli Theater
Christmas concerts in churches starting Dec 4th until December 22
'Divino Sospiro' or Bach's Christmas oratorio 18/12 Belém Cultural Center
Mahler's 9th Symphony 7/12, aslso at the Belém Cultural Center

More information of all of the above, see www.visitlisboa.com


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