Câmara Municipal (Town Hall), Sintra

Arnaldo Bermudes was among the most memorable of Portugal's greatest architects. He designed the extravagant Manueline Gothic Sintra Town Hall, built in 1910. After one look at this extraordinary flamboyant building erected over the bones of the old Chapel of Sao Sebastiao one is tempted to say, "Disneyland, eat your heart out."

The enormous clock tower and spire challenge the sky line. Even the National Palace is not more impressive. The spire has glazed reflective tiles picked out in gold, white and green, with emblems from the Portuguese coat-of-arms. Atop the spire is an armillary sphere. At the four corners of the crenelated tower are smaller spires, similarly tiled.

The architecture of the Town Hall is taken generally from many of the drawings of Arnaldo Bermudes. The overall style is neo-Manueline, reflecting Revivalist Historicist elements. The facade is a bit austere with arched neo-Manueline windows and a veranda with arches and a pediment of the city arms.

The inside holds a lush renaissance cloister with narrow upper balconies. Sad to say, the Town Hall is not normally open to tourists, but what a sight to see.