Sintra

Sintra

Sintra

Head from Lisbon towards Europe’s most westerly point with the Atlantic beyond and you enter the enchanting scenery of the Serra da Sintra – a verdant forested upland that has long been the inspiration of poets. Here, in a romantic medley of architectural styles, palaces, castles, stately homes and well-to-do homes stand proudly in leafy grounds or tucked along lush country lanes.

The cobbled lanes of Sintra’s old town are strewn with pretty houses, fascinating curio shops and little cafés, luring many visitors. But the main attraction is the National Palace, its unmistakable conical chimney stacks standing proud over the town. Loftier still, crowning Sintra’s mountain peak, the Palacio de Pena is a colourful 19th century palace built in an eccentric Romantic style and almost Disney-like in appearance.

Historically, Sintra’s elevated hills offered a cool retreat for Lisbon’s aristocrats and gentrified society in the height of summer. Today, it still retains its status as a highly desirable area for the well-heeled, and properties here are much sought-after.