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| · June 25, 2003 · |
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· Castles, Cuisine, Concerts And More Draw Travelers To Sensational Sintra, Portugal Sintra Summer Series June 20 - August 2 Showcases Cultural Talents from Ballet to Orchestra EnsemblesSINTRA, Portugal - Few destinations capture the very essence of their homeland like Sintra, a coastal town whose ancient palaces and castles are set against the backdrop of its rolling countryside and glistening beachfront where Portuguese chose to spend their summers. Unmistakably Portuguese, Sintra has been a sought-after destination for locals and tourists alike for centuries. Its spectacular architecture, diverse natural beauty and fine Portuguese cuisine continue to draw thousands each year to this fabulous enclave on the Atlantic. Pristine palaces and castles dating back to the 8th and 9th centuries, interesting museums celebrating the region's rich recent history as well as its Roman roots, and fine Portuguese cuisine featuring mouth-watering fresh seafood all await those visiting Sintra. Tours of the palaces and castles take visitors on a historical journey back to the Dark Ages, while horse-and-carriage rides afford an overview of Sintra's gorgeous natural setting. The Fair of Sao Pedro, held twice-monthly in this section's broad market square, makes available the freshest fruits and finest Portuguese delicacies, as it has since its inception in the 12th Century. And as if that wasn't enough of a draw, Sintra shines even brighter in the summer, coming alive with live music and ballets performed by internationally renowned artists June 20 - August 2, 2003. Held both indoors and outdoors - some are actually held in the palaces themselves - these annual concert series showcase the brilliance of both the performers and the palaces in which they are performing. Following is a summary of these series: Each summer, thousands of music lovers flock to this scenic resort town for the annual Sintra Music Festival. A unique and impressive summer concert series indeed, the annual event brings dozens of renowned orchestras, ensembles and individual performers come together for a program consisting solely of a piano repertoire from the Romantic period that features some of the very best international music interpreters. The various concerts are further enhanced by the venues in which they are held, including churches, palaces such as (Royal Palace) Palacio da Vila, Palacio da Pena and Palacio de Queluz, parks and country estates of the region. This year's lineup includes such esteemed pianists as Jorge Moyano, Pedro Murmester and Nelson Freire. Another of the region's artistic summertime events is the Sintra Ballet Festival. The perfect complement to the Sintra Music Festival, this ballet cycle, with its evocative name Noites de Bailado em Seteais - Nights of Ballet in Seteais - features an impressive list of international ballet companies. Performing this year are such internationally renowned companies as Geramny's Nationaltheatre Mannheim Ballett, Argentina's Ballet Teatro Colon, and Portugal's own Ballet Gulbenkian. For a complete list of performers and dates for both the Sintra Music Festival and the Sintra Ballet Festival, please visit www.cm-sintra.pt. For information on Sintra, the festivals and other parts of Portugal, please call the Portuguese National Tourist Office at (212) 354-6500 or visit www.portugal.org - www.portugalinsite.com. Media Contact: Abbey Nayor/Christopher Dale M. SILVER ASSOCIATES INC 212-754-6500 abbey@msilver-pr.com/christopher@msilver-pr.com or Alexandra Baltazar Portuguese National Tourist Office 212-354-4403 ext. 105 Abaltazar@Portugal.org |
| Produced by Judi Janofsky, Rich Steck and the Golf Press Association |