Accessibility
Everyone has the right to freely participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 | Article XXVII
In recent years, the European Commission has highlighted the inclusion of people with disabilities as a priority, developing various action plans.
Considering that access to the arts and culture is a right of all citizens, regardless of their characteristics and abilities, Parques de Sintra – Monte da Lua has considered it essential to make the Cultural and Natural Heritage of the properties under its management inclusive and accessible to all.
Parques de Sintra is currently implementing the “Parques de Sintra Acolhem Melhor” project, which aims to improve accessibility conditions at the properties under its management and establish them as examples of good practice in accessible tourism and equal opportunities for access to natural and built heritage.
With a total investment of approximately €2 million, 25% of which is co-financed by Turismo de Portugal, the project was based on research into global practices and involved consultation with several national organisations in the sector, namely ACAPO (Association of the Blind and Partially Sighted of Portugal), APS (Portuguese Association of the Deaf) and Associação Salvador, with which formal partnerships were established. The project also involved the integration of a doctoral researcher into the company, responsible for researching good practices, analysing case studies and assessing products available on the global market. This enabled the definition of the most appropriate strategy and the selection of the best options in accordance with the intended outcomes.
This project focuses on three dimensions of accessibility:
– Physical accessibility, by improving mobility conditions and enabling everyone to visit independently and safely, through physical adaptations to indoor and outdoor spaces and the acquisition of new equipment;
– Access to information, by improving communication, regardless of visitors’ individual characteristics;
– Access to services, by providing more and better services to diverse audiences, including people with disabilities, thereby ensuring more effective cultural knowledge and interpretation.
In addition to the partnerships established with the national organisations mentioned above, Parques de Sintra also became a member of the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT). The organisation’s main mission is to make European tourist destinations and their services accessible to all visitors, providing assistive technologies and knowledge-sharing opportunities, while promoting equal opportunities in access to tourism and culture. Parques de Sintra also became a member of Acesso Cultura at the end of 2014.
PLAN YOUR VISIT
The company’s commitment to Social Responsibility is also reflected in its pricing policy. Ticket prices are reduced by 70% for people with disabilities at the Convent of the Capuchos and the National Palace of Sintra, and by 50% at the other Parks and Palaces. Visitors requesting this service must provide appropriate proof whenever requested. No admission fee is charged to a companion accompanying a person with a disability.
Please consult the current price list.
Download the Parques de Sintra Acolhem Melhor project brochure
The information provided on this website enables visitors to make informed decisions in advance about the places they wish to access, in accordance with the right to equal opportunities. Information is available on physical access at each location, the guided tours currently offered, and services available by prior booking that can provide visitors with reduced mobility with a more enjoyable experience of the sites.
Prior consultation and advance booking of services are recommended to ensure that visitors receive the most comprehensive assistance possible.
Note: Assistance dogs are permitted to enter the sites when properly identified. Water bowls are available for assistance dogs.
Ticket Request for Visitors with Disabilities
To help you plan your visit, visitors with disabilities can request their tickets in advance using the form below.
Requests must be submitted at least 3 working days in advance.
To submit a request, please complete the form with the requested information and attach a valid and appropriate document certifying the disability.
Once the request has been submitted, the Parques de Sintra team will review the information and contact you using the email address provided in the form.
Important: Completing the form does not constitute immediate confirmation of your visit. The request is subject to review and confirmation by Parques de Sintra.
