Parques de Sintra refurbishes the Visitor Support Centre at the Moorish Castle and the Church of São Pedro de Canaferrim

Work began on 12 December on the refurbishment of two buildings located in the Moorish Castle: the Visitor Support Centre and the Church of São Pedro de Canaferrim. The project aims not only to rehabilitate the spaces, but also to reorganise them functionally in order to better welcome visitors.

Built in 2012, the Visitor Support Centre inside the Moorish Castle is entirely clad in acacia wood, which, due to the wear and tear caused by external agents (such as humidity or temperature), requires intervention. The acacia cladding will therefore be replaced by a less perishable and easier to maintain solution, which will also be applied to the terraces, bridges and walkways.

In addition, the various modules that make up the Visitor Support Centre will have new functions. The cafeteria will now occupy a more central space, next to the entrance, on the site that once housed the shop. Outside, the prisms/lanterns will be removed to make way for a larger terrace area with better sun exposure. In order to make the supply, storage and replenishment of products more efficient, the cafeteria will also have a new area dedicated to logistics. The toilets will be refurbished and the one for people with reduced mobility will be relocated.

The Church of São Pedro de Canaferrim, whose origins date back to the 12th century, currently serves as the Moorish Castle Interpretation Centre, where objects collected during archaeological excavations that took place between 2009 and 2013 are on display and the castle's history is presented. The roof of this building will be refurbished, including changes to the material of the structure and to the spacing of the slats in order to improve maintenance conditions.

Functionally, the space will also be modified to include a shop counter for the sale of Parques de Sintra cultural merchandising products. Access for people with reduced mobility to the 1st wall of the Moorish Castle will continue to be via the Church of São Pedro de Canaferrim, where there is a platform lift.

Budgeted at around 820,000 euros, the intervention is expected to last 10 months. During this period, the cafeteria will be deactivated, but visitors will have access to vending machines in the Visitor Support Centre located next to Estrada da Pena. There are also alternative toilet facilities in this area.