Cintra. a small but picturesque situated town in Portugal, in the province of Estremadura, 17 miles WNW. of Lisbon, with a population of 5500. It stands on the declivity of the Serra de Cintra, and is surrounded by country residences. There is a palace at Cintra, a strange mixture of Moorish and Christian architecture, anciently occupied by the Moorish kings, and subsequently a favourite summer-resort of the Christian monarchs. On another hill-top stands La Penna, once a convent, now also a residence of the kings of Portugal. In the neighbourhood is the Cork Convent, which derives its name from the cells—which are cut out of the rock—being lined with cork to prevent damp. Cintra is historically remarkable for the
Convention signed here, August 22, 1808, between the English and French, by which the latter agreed to evacuate Portugal, on condition of not being treated as prisoners of war, but landed on the coast of France, retaining their arms and effects. This convention excited the greatest public indignation both in the Peninsula and in England; and the British ministry were obliged to have the generals who signed the convention tried by a court-martial, which, however, resulted in their acquittal.