Travel to Sintra - a picturesque Portuguese town spangled with castles, royal estates, and gorgeous parks. Located west of Lisbon in the pine-covered hills of the Serra de Sintra, the city attracted the nobility and elite of Portugal with its slightly cooler climate, who in their turn constructed extravagant residences and gardens here.

Sintra, Portugal became the first center of European Romantic architecture in the 19th century when Ferdinand II turned a ruined monastery into a castle using the best elements of Gothic, Egyptian, Moorish and Renaissance traditions both for the castle and the incredible park decorated with local and exotic flora.

The town can be truly called a big architectural museum. Known for the abundance of 19th-century Romantic architectural monuments, Sintra's variety of historic buildings and natural heritage makes it a highly favored tourist destination and a popular day trip from Lisbon.

Things to see in Sintra

Experience the views of the Sintra Mountains as well as the Sintra-Cascais Nature Park and dive into the luxurious Portuguese past. An absolute must is a visit to the Pena Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the official Seven Wonders of Portugal, this colorful gem is among the most-visited destinations in the country and is surely worth adding on to your Portugal tour. Here are some more places not to miss: The National Palace (Palacio Nacional), the medieval Moorish Castle (Castelo dos Mouros), Quinta da Regaleira, the grand Palacio de Monserrate.

Spend an incredible day of your life in Sintra, the city of architectural treasures.